Moreau Catholic comes up short
SACRAMENTO — Down 17 early in the second quarter of Saturday’s state championship game with Esperanza-Anaheim, Moreau Catholic-Hayward senior guard Damari Milstead had an immediate thought. “Deja vu,” he said. The last time the Mariners played for a state championship, Milstead was a green but talented freshman. Moreau got blitzed by Bishop Montgomery-Torrance by 41 points in the most lopsided state-title game in history.
“We laid down,” Moreau coach Frank Knight said. Not this time. Behind mammoth efforts from freshman Kyree Walker (game-high 28 points, 10 rebounds) and Milstead (22 points), Moreau made a game of it, but lost 72-65 in the Division 2 championship game at Golden 1 Center.
When Walker, a rugged and versatile 6-foot-6 guard, drilled a three-pointer with 5:05 left in the third quarter, Moreau Catholic (25-10) took a 37-36 lead, sending the Mariners’ faithful into a frenzy.
But Esperanza (30-3), led by savvy and versatile 6-8 point guard Kenzie Okpala, was resilient and certainly battletested, playing in the hotbed of Southern California.
Garrett Geiger (10 points) came right back on the Aztecs’ next possession and powered in a basket, starting a 9-0 run. Moreau made several more charges, closing to two points twice in the final two minutes.
But the Stanford-bound Okpala (22 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks) and Brendan Harrick (25 points, 10-of-20 from the floor), were just too tough, handing the Mariners their second state final defeat in four years.
But this one was clearly different. This gritty Moreau team, which started 4-9, put up a fight but saw its 21-game win streak snapped. Esperanza won its first state title in its first appearance.
“We showed a lot of heart and a lot of will to fight,” Knight said. “This team has shown all year that when it should be done, they fight back.”
Said Milstead: “We just didn’t play well enough in the beginning. I missed a lot of shots early, and I’m disappointed about that. But I’m proud of how we came back.”
Esperanza coach Mark Hill put Okpala on the 6-2 Milstead and the Grand Canyon-bound standout, who has piled up more than 2,300 points and 100 wins in his career, was clearly bothered.
“Okpala is a real good player,” Milstead said. “He threw me off for a bit. He picked his spots very well.”
Walker didn’t pick any spots. He carried the Mariners much of the way, constantly driving hard to the basket and drawing fouls. He was 9 of 19 from the floor and 8-for-11 at the line. Milstead made all eight of his free throws.
Ultimately, Esperanza had earned it.
Knight said it will be very hard to watch Milstead leave the program.
“He’s one of the most decorated players in state history,” Knight said. “He’s done all he can at this level. It’s time for him to move on and do great things at the next level.”
“We chipped away and spent a lot of energy coming back,” Knight said.
Bishop Montgomery-Torrance 74, Woodcreek-Roseville 67: Ethan Thompson scored 26 points to lead Bishop Montgomery to the Open Division title. Woodcreek’s Jordan Brown scored 35 points and had 17 rebounds.