SANTA ANA, Calif. - Shabazz Muhammad, one of the nation's top juniors, scored 31 points and
Ben Carter added 11 as
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) recorded a determined 58-53 victory over
Long Beach Poly (Calif.) in the premier game of the Nike Extravaganza Saturday night before a nationally-televised audience.
Shabazz Muhammad goes strong to
the basket en route to a 31-point
game.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Muhammad, a 6-foot-6 wing, scored 22 points in the second half including four straight free throws in the final 27.2 seconds.
It was Poly's first defeat after 22 straight victories. The Jackrabbits entered as the No. 4 team in the Xcellent 25 national rankings.
Unranked Gorman improved to 20-6.
Poly shot just 31 percent from the field and got 12 points from USC-bound
Alexis Moore, 11 by Boston College-bound
Ryan Anderson and 10 by
Alex Carmon.
"Biggest win since I've been here," said Muhammad, who made 10 of 11 free throws and was 10-for-23 from the floor. He added a team-high nine rebounds. "That's the No. 4 team in the nation we beat. We left it all on the court."
Anderson, whose team was outrebounded 39-33, said Gorman simply wanted it more than Poly.
"We usually have more energy than our opponents, but they found a way," Anderson said. "They found a way to win."
Gorman's Ronnie Stanley (23)
fouled out midway through
the fourth quarter.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Moore, who made just 5 of 14 shots but hit two 3-pointers late to make it close, said Muhammad led in every facet.
"He was their leader in every facet," Moore said. "If he wasn't making a big shot, or making a key rebounder and making a great pass, he exalting them. He wouldn't let them lose."
It wasn't all Muhammad.
Demetris Morant, a 6-9 junior came off the bench when starting post Ronnie Stanley fouled out with 4:21 left, made four key free throws, a fastbreak dunk and had two key dunks down the stretch.
"He's coming into his own," Gorman coach Grant Rice said. "It's scary how good he's going to be. He'll be a high major Division I player by next season."
It's scary how good Gorman might be by next season, but the Gaels are thinking strictly another state title. They've lost five games this year but played one of the toughest schedules in the country. All the losses were to out-of-state teams including competitive games to No. 1 St. Patrick (79-63) and No. 11 Findlay Prep (89-86).
What did the Gaels do against Poly they didn't do against those two opponents?
With Stanley out, Demetris Morant (21)
was huge down the stretch for Gorman.
Photo by Louis Lopez
"Box out, rebound and finish," Muhammad said.
Poly players think the loss might jump start a playoff run.
"Our goal is the state title, so this let's us know what we'll need to do in tough games," Moore said. "We just didn't make shots early. We rushed things. Maybe it was the big gym, the bright lights."
Or just too much Muhammad.
Bishop Gorman 58, Long Beach Poly 53Bishop Gorman 10 9 11 28 - 58
Long Beacy Poly 13 5 17 18 - 53
BISHOP GORMAN (20-5): Rosco Allen 2-5 0-1 4, Ryan Parks 0-3 0-0 0, Noah Robotham 1-3 2-2 4, Ben Carter 3-7 5-6 11, Shabazz Muhammad 10-23 10-11 31, Demetris Morant 2-3 4-4 8, Ronnie Stanley 0-3 0-0. Totals 18-47 21-26 58.
LONG BEACH POLY (22-1): Roschon Prince 3-13 2-5 9, Alexis Moore 5-14 0-0 12, Alex Carmon 4-14 2-2 10, Earnest Pettway 0-1 0-0 0, Chris Groom 1-2 0-0 2, Ryan Anderson 2-8 6-9 11, Chris Camper 3-5 2-2 9. Totals 18-57 12-18 53.
3-point goals: Muhammad, Moore 2, Prince, Anderson, Camper.
Fouled out: Stanley, Carmon, Pettway, Camper.
Rebounds: Bishop Gorman 39, Poly 33.
Turnovers: Gorman 18, Poly 15.
See rest of Nike Extravaganza Saturday.
