McKeever is the key for Granada in DI title game
Late on Tuesday night, after his team punched its ticket to today's CIF Division I state championship against Granada in Sacramento, Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks coach Matt Sargeant started watching film.
He watched six games of tape on Granada, a school that is playing in its firstever state final, and Sargeant knew quickly what it would take to win.
“We've been preaching rebounding all year long,” Sargeant said. “We're undersized.”
Rebounding was at the core of what Salesian coach Bill Mellis wanted to see from his squad against Granada, too, but with the Matadors' 7-foot senior center and Saint Mary's commit Andrew McKeever reaching over the crowd to gobble up rebounds on both ends, it's been a struggle for other teams to match up.
“I don't think anyone matches up with them, that's the thing,” Mellis said after Granada's 60-47 win on Tuesday secured the Matadors' spot in the state championship game.
It's all about McKeever for Granada, which could match up well against Notre Dame, a team that doesn't start a single player taller than 6-foot-5 senior point guard and Duke commit Caleb Foster.
And while McKeever is still finding his touch around the basket — he was just 4-for-12 from the floor despite having at least 6 inches over everybody on the Salesian side on Tuesday night — his presence as a rebounder and shotblocker is enough for opposing coaches to get worried.
Sargeant noticed one other thing: “He's a phenomenal passer.”
It was the key for Granada in the NorCal final, when McKeever was getting doubleand triple-teamed but often found open guys, like senior guard Kevin Grant, who went 4-for-5 from 3-point range, and senior wing Tyler Harris, who scored a game-high 18 points.
Between Harris and McKeever, the Matadors have two guys capable of crashing the boards and dominating the rebound game.
“It does take a lot off my guards when we attack, we know we have guys going after the rebounds trying to get one back in,” said Granada's fifth-year coach, Quaran Johnson.
Still, Notre Dame might be considered the favorites after an overwhelming 8061 win against Sierra Canyon, ending the high school career of Bronny James, LeBron's son.
Notre Dame went 4-0 against Sierra Canyon this season. The Knights also beat Dougherty Valley, 6553, in a January matchup. Dougherty Valley went 3-0 against Granada, though all three games were decided by seven points or fewer.
Friday's matchup could be the start of a budding rivalry between McKeever, who will be suiting up for the Gaels next year, and Notre Dame senior Dusty Stromer, who will be playing for Gonzaga.
In addition to Foster and Stromer, the Knights have a third D-I commit in Houston-bound Mercy Miller.
Granada could end up with two D-I players, depending on what happens with Harris, who said he'll make a decision after Friday's game.
It's sure to be the biggest test of Granada's season.
Said McKeever, “We started slow, lost a couple games in the league, got better in the league playoffs, got better in NCS, and we just keep progressing.”