Sophomore scores 24 points and grabs 15 rebounds in showdown between two of NorCal's best.
Sophomore Ivan Rabb was outstanding for Bishop O'Dowd on Monday, but he wasn't the only reason the Dragons came away with the victory.
File photo by Jann Hendry
If
Bishop O'Dowd High School's boys basketball is going to win a state title — its ultimate goal — super 6-foot-9 sophomore
Ivan Rabb can't do it all.
Ivan Rabb, Bishop O'Dowd
Photo by Dennis Lee
And that's largely why
Northern California No. 4 O'Dowd (Oakland) head coach Lou Richie was more than satisfied with his team's 80-71 win over a deep and resilient
Sacramento squad (NorCal No. 7) Monday in the Martin Luther King Classic at Cal's Haas Pavilion.
Yes, Rabb, considered the top sophomore in the country by more than one recruiting service, was his dominating self with 24 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks.
But it was the play of senior guard
Russell Davis (15 points),
Paris Austin (13),
Juwan Anderson (10) and
Michael Perri (10) that had Richie smiling after his Dragons improved to 14-3.
It helped offset a superb 24-point effort from 6-foot senior guard
Aaron Cameron for Sacramento (13-6), which led only once, 39-38, on a 3-pointer by Cameron.
Joe Barnes added 14 and
Simi Shelton 10 for Sacramento.
Russell Davis, Bishop O'Dowd
File photo by Jann Hendry
But O'Dowd got held off numerous charges in the second half and actually stayed even with Sacramento in the fourth quarter despite no points from Rabb.
Austin hit six straight free throws down the stretch to seal it.
"Russell Davis came up huge," Richie said. "He's been struggling with his confidence, but to do that in a setting like this should help immensely."
Rabb gave his team an "A," but Richie only a "C".
"Too many turnovers," Richie said. "Too many mistakes. Not enough defensive rebounds. But very good win,"
Aaron Cameron, Sacramento
File photo by David Steutel
Said Rabb: "I like the way we finished. We matched their energy."
Not easy with how tenacious Sacramento is. Cameron was everywhere and made a spectacular block on a O'Dowd breakaway.
Devin Young, a very impressive and imposing 6-6 freshman, was extremely active though was held to just six points.
Young had five blocks in the second half alone and did a superb job on Rabb in the fourth quarter.
"That's a tough, tough team," Richie said. "They come at you in waves. I was very pleased with our toughness."
