CONCORD — With the game in the balance heading into the fourth quarter, De La Salle forward Alec Blair knew exactly what he had to do to take over the game.
“When I saw the game was close I said ‘It’s time to take over like Patrick Mahomes,’ ” Blair said.
Just like what the Super Bowl winning quarterback did to the San Francisco 49ers 10 days ago, Blair did the same to visiting No. 3 seed Branson in Wednesday’s North Coast Section Open Division semifinals.
Blair hit every big shot in the fourth quarter to lead De La Salle to a 62-54 win and a spot in the NCS championship game where it will face No. 1 seed Salesian.
“We’re gonna put the ball in Alec’s hands, I don’t think there’s any secret about that,” said De La Salle coach Marcus Schroeder. “Alec is great and we’re really fortunate to have him.”
De La Salle’s Alec Blair (33) pulls up between a pair of Branson defenders during the fourth quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Blair led De La Salle with 24 points and David Balogun added 12.
Semetri Carr led Branson with 25 points while Jase Butler had 14.
Branson had all the momentum going into the fourth quarter. With time running down in the third, Carr found Butler near the rim and lobbed an alley-oop pass which Butler threw down at the buzzer to tie the game at 42 and get the Branson crowd going.
Schroder knew if the Spartans were going to win the game, it was going to be Blair to take them there.
Everything went through Blair in the final eight minutes. He was the primary ball handler at times while other times he posted up near the basket. Everybody in the gym knew he was looking for his pull up jumper near the free throw line, but Branson couldn’t stop it.
With 1:40 left in the game, Branson had De La Salle on the ropes. The Spartans had no answer for Carr who scored seven points in the fourth quarter as all the Bulls needed was a stop to get a chance to tie the game in the waning minutes.
As De La Salle started its offense, Schroeder motioned for Blair to get the ball. With eight seconds on the shot clock, Blair found his spot on the right wing and elevated to get his shot off. The ball kissed the top of the backboard and fell to the bottom of the net in what was eventually the dagger shot as the Spartans took a 57-52 lead with just over a minute left in the game.
Blair ended the fourth quarter with eight points, all coming from mid-range pull up jumpers.
“That’s his skillset,” Schroeder said about Blair’s ability to make tough shots. “That’s his bread and butter. I think his strength is in the mid-range and operating in the free throw line area, so that’s how we’re going to play.”
De La Salle head coach Marcus Schroeder watches from a crouch as his team takes on Branson during the second quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle strung together just enough stops and hit all of its late-game free throws to ice the win.
Though De La Salle hasn’t played a game since losing to San Ramon Valley in the East Bay Athletic League tournament championship 11 days ago, there were no signs of rust. The break actually helped the Spartans rest as they were dealing with a team-wide illness.
“It was crazy, we were all sick last week,” Blair said. “It was a much needed break. Coach Schroeder did a really nice job of getting us better during that time.”
De La Salle will look to capture its 14th NCS championship on Friday when it faces Salesian at Contra Costa College. Salesian defeated San Ramon Valley 60-45 on Wednesday.
The two teams met in the NCS Open semifinals last year where De La Salle got the best of the Pride in a 55-49 win at home.
“I know they’re really well coached,” Schroeder said about playing Salesian. “They have really good team chemistry and have older players who have been in the semifinals … We’re excited for the opportunity.”
De La Salle’s Alec Blair, facing, hugs a friend following his team’s victory over Branson in a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle fans cheer on their team against Branson during the fourth quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s David Balogun (42) looks to pass away from defensive pressure by Branson guard Jase Butler (4) during the third quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Leo Ricketts (3) falls to the court as he and Branson sophomore James Butler (30) pursue a loose ball during the fourth quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Leo Ricketts (3) drives past Branson sophomore James Butler (30) during the second quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Arshawn Salkhi (23) drives past Branson guard DJ Armstrong (1) during the second quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Branson guard Semetri Carr (2) drives to the basket against De La Salle’s Ibrahim Monawar (11) during the first quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Alec Blair (33) shoots over Branson guard Finley Keeffe (25) during the first quarter of a North Coast Section Open Division boys’ high school semi-final basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Concord, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)