California championships: San Ramon Valley beats Chino Hills in 2 OTs

BERKELEY, Calif. — First year San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.) boys coach Brian Botteen held his head, gazed into the Haas Pavilion lights and looked lost. Lost in his own dream.

His team had just pulled out a 79-71 Division I state championship win in double overtime over Chino Hills, just sort of like he imagined it near Christmas when he drove his team to Cal and told them this was their destination.

Keith Smith had 20 points and eight assists, Christian Fuca scored 18 points after going scoreless in the first half and Kyle Spackman added 15 points and 15 rebounds to give the Wolves (27-6) their first state championship after losing in the finals back-to-back years in 1991 and 1992.

He was a junior varsity player at SRV during those years.



"Never, ever, ever," Botteen said when asked if he ever imagined winning a state crown when he was given the job in the spring for longtime coach John Raynor, who retired. "I just seems like a dream. This is the stuff movies are made of. Maybe Denzel Washington could play me."

San Ramon Valley finished third in the East Bay Athletic League behind champion Monte Vista-Danville, which won last year's Division I state title.

The Wolves trailed 29-25 at halftime, but Fuca hit three three-pointers in the third leading a 24-15 charge. More important than that for SRV was the fact Lonzo Ball, a 6-6 point guard and one of the nation's top juniors, picked up his fourth foul late in the third and eventually he fouled out with 3:18 left in regulation.

He had piled up 30 points and 10 rebounds to that point and his sophomore brother, LiAngelo Ball, who finished with 23, tried to pick up the slack.

In the second overtime, Fuca broke a 67-67 tie with his fourth three-pointer and the Wolves would never be caught. Spackman, a 6-7 post, had a putback and Drew Kunde (12 points) a jumper in the overtime period to help put Chino Hills (17-15) away.

Of course, it was helped with Lonzo Ball not in the game the final 11:18. To its credit, Chino Hills almost pulled it out with its star and leader.



Understandably, afterward, Huskies coach Steve Balk was beside himself.

"I'm really disappointed we weren't allowed to play with the guys who deserved to be on the quarter," he said. "It's really frustrating."

He paid great, respects, however, to San Ramon Valley.

"They played one heck of a game," he said.

Smith, a lightning quick 6-foot point guard, said he thought SRV's pressure would eventually wilt Chino Hills.

"This is all just so indescribable," he said. "I am so happy. I feel amazing."



The Wolves' other post, 6-10 senior Gregg Polosky, was also terrific with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also hit some key free throws in both overtimes.

"I'm just so happy for our school and all the players who contributed before," he said. "The (Mark) Madsens and (Randy) Winns and all the rest."

San Ramon Valley 79, Chino Hills 71

CHINO HILLS (17-15)
Lonzo Ball 11-22 6-8 30, LiAngelo Ball 8-29 3-4 23, Andre Ball 2-5 2-2 7, Cameron Shelton 3-10 0-0 8, Jared Nyiyh 1-4 0-0 2, Jordan Thropay 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 25-70 12-16 71.

SAN RAMON VALLEY (27-6)
Keith Smith 5-15 10-13 20, Christian Fuca 5-16 4-4 18, JJ Koski 1-4 0-0 2, Kyle Spackman 7-12 1-5 15, Drew Kundle 4-5 2-2 12, Gregg Polosky 3-4 6-8 12. Totals 25-59 23-32 79.

Chino Hills             14  15  15  19  4   4  — 71
San Ramon Valley 16   9   24  14  4  12 — 79

3-point goals: Lonzo Ball 2, LiAngelo Ball 4, Shelton 2, Andre Ball, Fuca 4, Kunde 2. Rebounds: Chino Hills 42 (Lonzo Ball 10), San Ramon Valley 46 (Spackman 15). Turnovers: Chino Hills 10, San Ramon Valley 13.