California D3 championship: Damien sprints past Campolindo

Pregame
Division III boys, Damien (La Verne) (28-5) vs. Campolindo (Moraga) (28-4)

Terrific trios: Damien — Jeremy Hemsley, Malik Fitts, Bryce Peters. Campolindo — Chris Hansen, Austin Clarke, Sean Smith.
State records: Damien 0-0, Campolindo 0-0.
Key points: Campolindo has terrific inside game with 6-6, 235-pound Hansen, and outside game with three-point specialists Smith and Clark. San Diego State-bound Hemsley leads Damien.

Final score: Damien 70, Campolindo 57

Berkeley — Sometimes all the preparation in the world, and all the inspiration, just goes out the window. Or jumps over your head.

Damien, a battle-tested bunch with a cast of high fliers and sharp shooters, had just a little more than Campolindo could handle in a Division III state championship game at Haas Pavilion Friday.

San Diego State-signee Jeremy Hemsley had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Micah Robison came off the bench to make five three-pointers and score 17 as Damien (29-5) scored 31 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 70-57 victory.

It offset a 25-point, 14-rebound effort from Campolindo 6-foot-7, 240-pound post Chris Hansen and 15 points from Austin Clarke. The Cougars (28-5) were trying to be the first Northern California team to win a state football and basketball championship the same year.

Campolindo, utilizing a crisp and efficient team concept all season, were outrebounded 40-33 and Damien’s length changed shots and led to 14 offensive rebounds. Damien’s backcourt starters were 6-5 and 6-4 compared to Campolindo’s of 5-7 and 5-6.

“The tough part is trying to replicate their athleticism in practice," Campolindo coach Matt Watson said. "We talk about the mean streets of Moraga. It's tough to find guys out there who can duplicate what they do during the game."

Campolindo played a rigorous nonleague season and won impressive tournaments at Gridley and Modesto Christian, but Damien would claim winning its Baseline League was an even more fervent training ground.

Baseline features state Division I finalist Chino Hills and Southern California Open finalist Etiwanda, which was nationally ranked during the season.

"It's a great league and it obviously prepared us for this moment," Damien coach Matt Dunn said.

Hemsley, a 6-4 guard, who also had a game-high six assists said Damien practices were the ultimate battle ground.

"Tougher than any game," he said.

He said his team's mindset was the ultimate enforcer. "Losing wasn't an option," he said. "It never came to mind."

It helped that a huge cheering section made the 400-mile jaunt to Berkeley. "They're the best," Hemsley said.

Which is what Dunn said about Hemsley, the school's career scoring leader. "He has been a great player and a great person and he's set a high standard. That's plenty for future players to live up to and shoot for."

Dunn was asked about Hansen, a UC San Diego commit, who has carried the Cougars in the middle all season. “He’s a monster,” Dunn said. "I can’t think of a guy we’ve ever played that was so deceptive. He’s every bit as good as we heard. … I don’t know him, obviously, but he seems like a real special kid, a kid you’d love to coach. I mean, a big kid like that getting out on the break like he did a couple times. Special."

Dunn thought his team's attitude was especially special after a disappointing 22-7 season in 2013-14 that ended in the second round of sections. Instead of jumping ship, the Spartans grew tighter.

"Nowadays you win or sometimes players go elsewhere," he said. "That's the culture. These guys really stayed the course and came back determined to make up for what wasn't. ... Our winning tonight really started with that (season-ending) loss last year."

Even in defeat, Watson couldn’t have been more upbeat afterward, praising his team’s play Friday and throughout season. The Cougars trailed by three at halftime and four heading into the fourth quarter. They lead 20-19 just before halftime and stayed within striking distance.

Until the fourth. Damien simply had another gear.

“We executed for 24 minutes but unfortunately the game is 32 minutes long,” Watson said. “I thought we played our hearts out. I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished and their body of work.”

Damien 70, Campolindo 57

DAMIEN (29-5)
Bryce Peters 6-16 0-2, 12, Malik Fitts 3-11 1-1 9, Jeremy Hemsley 7-16 44 20, Justin Hemsley 2-2 0-0 4, Andy Torices 2-4 1-2 5, Eli McCullough 0-0 1-2 1, Micah Robinson 6-10 0-0 17, Kaleb Wilborn 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-62 7-11 70.

CAMPOLINDO
Sean Yamamoto 0-2 0-0 0, Scott Chen 0-5 2-5 2, Austin Clarke 5-9 2-5 15, Chris Hansen 10-23 5-5 25, Sean Smith 2-4 1-2 6, Tiger Garcia 2-5 0-0 5, Trevin Kroichick 1-1 0-0 2, Chris Wright 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 21-52 10-17 57.

Damien         10  13  16  31  — 70
Campolindo    6  14  15  22 — 57

3-point goals: Robinson 5, Fitts 2, Jeremy Hemsley 2, Clarke 3, Smith, Garcia. Rebounds: Damien 40 (Fitts 12), Campolindo 33 (Hansen 14). Turnovers: Damien 9, Campolindo 12.