Mission tumbles in NorCal opener
Mission brought a 15-game winning streak and status as a defending state champion and San Francisco Section champion into its California Interscholastic Federation Northern California Division 3 playoff opener Wednesday.
What it lacked was a way to stop Foothill-Palo Cedro’s backcourt.
With guards Zach Reuter and Thurman Knowles scoring 23 points apiece, Foothill bounced the Bears from the postseason with an 83-78 victory at Kezar Pavilion.
Kamiri Smith scored 18 points to lead Mission (22-9), which was the state’s Division 3 champion last year. U’Jah Pratt added 15 points, Robert Lee had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Adrian Otis added 13 points.
“I proud to fight with my brothers,” said Lee, one of nine seniors on the Bears’ roster. “I’m definitely proud to fight with them. My last game as a senior at Mission. Mission has turned it around. They will go back next year, they will get past the first round and all the seniors, all nine of us, will go off to college.”
The Bears , got off to a strong start before Foothill (24-6) went on a 14-2 run in the second quarter
to take the lead for good.
Foothill’s lead stretched to 13 early in the third quarter before the Bears responded. Mission closed to 60-58 early in the fourth quarter, but Reuter and Knowles each hit three-pointers. Knowles did miss 3 of 4 foul shots late but Mission was able to cut its deficit only to three.
University winning as Tigers Kezar. and try the but Spivy, five Red Spivy, (22-8) got assists, shot who his Devils 85, who late in own scored Patterson a missed (30-3) Division in also rebound. the 45 had third a beat points, three-point 3 12 83: game He overtime rebounds the Spencer then hit at worked one-hander 85-83. After the clock to Patterson’s put down University and Joe drove Okitukunda up for a Red Devils was got called the ball for to traveling, Spivy, who the was the one-and-one, fouled. He missed but Patterson's the front end of desperation heave wasn't close. Spivy picked up his fourth foul with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter and University up 59-55, but he stayed in the game. However, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. Spivy scored on a drive with 22 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Julian Manyika added 20 points for University, which will face Foothill on Saturday. Kwaheri Rue scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Patterson. Okitukunda scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Division points and 1: 13 Jonathan rebounds, Ned Ezra had Manjon 20 added 17 points and Charles Stanford 13 as Heritage-Brentwood (29-2) defeated visiting Bullard 71-67. … Max Dorward had 24 points and Spencer Rojahn 12 as host Palo Alto (24-3) won 62-49 over De La Salle-Concord
(21-9), Pratt. points Menlo Central off … two School-Atherton and which Riley Coast lopsided Cole Woodson got Section Kastner 24 losses points Open scored (24-3), had in from Division, 14 the 31 as coming Justin beat 65-61. Clayton host Roman Valley Clayton Merritt (26-4). Valley-Concord had Menlo 28 points next for plays winner Central-Fresno at St. Francis-Mountain (25-7), a 73-72 View (19-8). … Brandon Beckman had 18 points, and Darrion Trammell and Teddy Snyder 14 each as St. Ignatius (18-9) won 71-54 at Berkeley (23-7), which got 15 points from Ben Baker. … St. Ignatius next plays Mitty (12-16), a 73-54 winner over Jesuit-Carmichael. Riley Grigsby had 23 points and Devan Sapp and Joseph Vaughn added 16 apiece for Mitty. … Devin Payne had 23 points and Nate Robinson 18 as host Las Lomas-Walnut Creek (28-3) prevailed 65-59 over Franklin-Stockton (20-10). Las Lomas next plays Dublin (26-5), a 62-58 winner over Serra.
Division 2: James Chun made five three-pointers and scored 24 points as Riordan (17-11) defeated host St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo 71-62. Riordan broke a school record with 14 three-pointers, including two from Je’Lani Clark (15 points) and three by Anthony Oropeza (11 points). SPSV (21-11), the defending state Division 4 state champion, played without two starters for disciplinary reasons. Jalen Scott (17 points) and Dishon Jackson (15 points) led SPSV. … Trevin Kroichick, who scored 23 points, hit two free throws with eight seconds left as host Campolindo-Moraga (20-10) escaped with a 58-56 victory over Whitney-Rocklin (23-8). David Ahazie added 18 points for Campolindo. … Leonard Turner had 16 points, Max Anderson 14, Dallas Rider 12 and Amil Fields 10 as visiting Moreau CatholicHayward (22-7) won 70-60 at Sequoia-Redwood City. … Other winners included Alameda, Los Gatos and Woodcreek-Roseville, which beat St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda 71-54. Los Gatos (22-6) won at Antelope Valley 83-52.