SFC LOSES TOP PLAYER BUT NOT AIM FOR TITLE

Since Trevan Martin, the team’s top returning player, went down with a knee injury before the season started, Santa Fe Christian has played with a “next-man-up” mentality.

That philosophy had paid off with 25 wins, including a 71-58 victory over Carlsbad in the San Diego Section Division I championship at UC San Diego’s RIMAC Arena.

“We have three guys averaging 17 points (Sam Dudley, Keatten Smith and Hayden Gray), but we win as a team,” Dudley said.

None of those three hit their average Saturday with Dudley finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Smith finishing with 14 points and Gray 11.

But Saagar Dhanjani led the top-seeded Eagles (25-7) with 15 and Alex Yphantides added 12.

Martin got in for the final 27 seconds, his first action of the season.

“Carlsbad had us scouted really well, so we needed the other guys to step up,” Dudley said.

This is SFC’S third championship in four years, winning Division I in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

“I was a freshman sitting on the bench that first year,” Dudley said. “Winning a title, making a contribution in a big game, has been my dream.”

SFC led by four at the half and a 10-2 run to start the third quarter had the advantage up to 12.

Carlsbad (22-10), seeded No. 2, cut the deficit to seven midway through the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

“How you move on after adversity is everything,” said SFC coach Chad Bickley. “Ultimately, all you can control is how hard you play, if you play together and how smart you play.

“We’ve played through adversity all year, but so has Carlsbad.”

The Lancers played without 6-foot-10 Kai Burdick (thumb) and 6-6 Caleb Nelson (toe). Kaspar Kasradze (knee), who stands 6-5, was limited to five minutes Saturday.

Jailen Nelson led Carlsbad with 26 points while Toby Harris added 12 and Mason Bowers 11. Sam Hasegawa had 10 rebounds.