Serra's late rally falls short in Division 3AA semifinals
GARDENA >> The long road back proved to be just that for the Serra boys basketball team Friday.
The Cavaliers trailed visiting St. Bonaventure by 16 points in the fourth quarter, fought and clawed their way back to get to a single-digit deficit, but as Jeremiah Wilson's last 3-pointer after a steal went through the basket, the clock ran out.
St. Bonaventure (24-8) survived with a 67-64 victory in the CIF-SS Division 3AA semifinal, ending Serra's quest for its first final appearance since 2016.
It has been an emotional couple of weeks for the Serra basketball team with the death of Marcus Adams Sr., the father of sophomore Maximo Adams.
“They love each other,” Serra coach Bernard McCumby said of his team. “They didn't want to lose for Maxi and that's what kind of inspired that last five minutes was their love for Maxi and his father and wanting to win for him.
“But unfortunately we ran out of time.”
Serra defeated Arcadia in the quarterfinals (63-55) to advance to the semifinals.
Adams was surrounded by St. Bonaventure defenders all game and finished with 12 points. McCumby
credited Adams with being able to focus on basketball despite his grieving.
“That kid has a level of mental toughness that I haven't seen in a kid that young,” McCrumby said. “The way he's been able to stay focused on the task at hand, compartmentalize his emotions and focus on the team and what our goals were is something that I haven't seen in a lot of adults.
“Basketball is his happy place, it's a necessary distraction for him. He and his dad connected through the game and he's able to hold it close and keep it close and that's how he can keep his father close to him.”
St. Bonaventure will face La Habra in the final, at a location and time to be announced.
Serra (19-13) trailed by just six at halftime (29-23), but the third quarter saw St. Bonaventure start to take control.
Early in the quarter, Serra tied the scoree at 33-33 on a 3-pointer by Wilson with 4:21 left.
St. Bonaventure responded with an 11-0 run and it was an uphill battle from there for Serra.
“A lot of guys from a returning team that lost by three in the CIF finals last year,” St. Bonaventure coach Wolfgang Wood said of his team. “They've been having their eyes on this the whole time and our motto has always been, we're the most resilient team and if you're going to beat us, you've got to beat us in a bar fight for four quarters.”
Entering the fourth quarter, Serra had to press the intensity, which eventually sped up St. Bonaventure.
With 3:14 remaining, Kayleb Kearse cut the deficit to 15 at 58-43. Serra finally got the deficit into single digits at 61-53 on a 3-pointer by Devin Shell.
With a minute left, Serra was finally in a two-possession game, but time finally ran out on Wilson's last basket.
“If we had maybe another minute, maybe even 30 seconds, I think we could have pulled that one out,” McCrumby said.
Kearse led Serra with 19 points and Shell had 18 points.
In Division 2AA
ROLLING HILLS PREP 57, THOUSAND OAKS 50 >> Mateo Trujillo scored 24 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Huskies (26-5) to the semifinal road victory.
Kawika Suter had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Nick Welch Jr. had 10 points and eight rebounds.
RHP will face St. Anthony in the final next Friday or Saturday at a time and location to be announced.