OAKLAND — Forget the record.
The Bellarmine Bells are one of most battle-tested teams still playing in the state basketball playoffs, their grind through the West Catholic Athletic League having prepared them for moments such as the one they faced Thursday night.
Overtime at Bishop O’Dowd. Nine seconds on the clock. Score tied.
The ball made its way to sophomore guard Will Corbett, who powered his way through the lane. His shot bounced around the rim and dropped through the hoop with three seconds to spare.
When O’Dowd was unable to answer, Bellarmine celebrated a 62-60 victory that sends the San Jose school to the Northern California Division II semifinals at home on Saturday night against Oakland, last season’s Division III state champion.
“That’s a classic for us,” said Bellarmine coach Alex Sarrett, whose team improved to 12-17. “That will go down as something we talk 10 years from now. Back and forth. Punches thrown the whole time. Give credit to them. That’s a tough, scrappy, athletic team. I am happy to get out of here with a W.”
Bellarmine’s Julian Gospich (12) dribbles against Bishop O’Dowd’s Tobias Aisien (3) and Joshua Green (10) in the second half of of their CIF NorCal Division II basketball semifinal game at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine had to regroup after O’Dowd went on a 7-2 run in the final 1:20 of regulation to force overtime.
The visitors nearly had a walk-off win before the extra four minutes when Corbett got off a 3-pointer from the corner as time expired in the fourth quarter.
But the shot didn’t fall.
“I wanted to make that corner three,” he said. “But I knew I was going to make the next one. I knew I was going to get another opportunity to redeem myself.”
Overtime played out like much of the game, with the teams trading baskets.
Samuel Chavarin’s jumper with 29.5 seconds to play pulled O’Dowd even for the final time, 60-60.
Bellarmine called timeout with 19.8 seconds remaining to set up Corbett’s winner.
“I knew I was going to take the last shot,” said Corbett, who led the Bells with 20 points, 16 after halftime. “Luckily it went in and we got the win.”
It wasn’t quite that simple. Here is how it unfolded:
Corbett inbounded to Noah Custodio, who handed the ball right back to Corbett.
The guard dribbled at the top of the key, then passed to his brother, 6-foot-7 senior power forward Nick Corbett, who took two dribbles before giving it back to his sibling.
Corbett then sliced through two defenders, met two more at the rim and somehow pulled both arms back with his upper body arched to avoid contact and got off a two-handed shot.
The ball caromed off the back of the iron, bounced, hit the side rim and dropped cleanly through the net.
“He got right into the teeth,” said O’Dowd coach Lou Richie, whose team finished 20-10. “He didn’t take a charge. I saw the ball bounce and said, ‘That’s going in.’ Then you don’t get a chance to really run our play. That’s the way the ball bounces. Kudos to them, their coaching staff and their players. They play hard. Best of luck to them. They went on the road and won. That’s not easy to do.”
Bishop O’Dowd’s Leo Chapman (24), Garry Hill-Thomas II (21), Tobias Aisien (3) and their teammates walk off the court after they lose 62-60 to Bellarmine High in overtime of their CIF NorCal Division II basketball semifinal game at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine is the only sub-.500 team still alive in the NorCal boys regionals.
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But don’t let the record fool you. Ten of the Bells’ 17 losses were to WCAL powers Archbishop Riordan, Archbishop Mitty, Serra and St. Ignatius, half by single digits.
“Obviously we had the tough schedule all throughout league,” Corbett said. “I think it just sets us up for when we play other Northern California teams because they don’t play the comp that we play.”
Tobias Aisien (17 points), Leo Chapman (16 points) and Joshua Green (13 points) were O’Dowd’s top scorers. Aisien and Chapman are seniors.
Nick Corbett added 11 points and Nick Paniccia finished with eight for Bellarmine.
“We had a really rocky season,” Nick Corbett said. “Finishing strong, that really means a lot to me. Senior year, I want to go out on a high note. I’m just excited about this.”
Bellarmine’s Nick Corbett (1) gains a rebound against Bishop O’Dowd’s Tobias Aisien (3) in the second half of of their CIF NorCal Division II basketball semifinal game at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Bishop O’Dowd’s Tobias Aisien (3) makes a shot against Bellarmine’s Julian Gospich (2) in the first half of of their CIF NorCal Division II basketball semifinal game at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Bishop O’Dowd coaches and players celebrate a basket and drew foul by Leo Chapman (24) against Bellarmine High in the second half of of their CIF NorCal Division II basketball semifinal game at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)