Video: Rancho Christian beats Sierra Canyon
View slideshow of images from Rancho Christian's 85-81 overtime victory.
The popular traveling show that is
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) boys basketball hopes to get back on track Saturday after hitting a speed bump recently against a now fierce Southern California rival.
The Trailblazers, whose roster includes three 5-star players and the sons of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, had their 14-game win streak to start the season — 26 games overall — snapped Dec. 30 with an 85-81 overtime loss to
Rancho Christian (Temecula) in The Classic at Damien finals.
It was the second loss in two seasons to the Eagles, who features the nation's No. 1 senior recruit in
Evan Mobley. Rancho Christian is the only California team to beat Sierra Canyon in that span as the last California team, other than Rancho Christian, to beat Sierra Canyon was Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 55-53, on March 2, 2018, a span of 37 games.
The Trailblazers (15-2), No. 17 nationally by MaxPreps, get a shot at redemption against the 11th-ranked Eagles (16-2) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Pasadena City College. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN3.
Follow the game live here:
Fans are in for a treat if the game is a repeat performance of Dec. 30. Sierra Canyon led for most of regulation before Rancho Christian took control in the fourth. But a late rally and bucket from Sierra Canyon's
Ziaire Williams sent the game into overtime. Mobley (16 points, 15 rebounds) and
Dominick Harris (game-high 30 points) regained control for the Eagles in OT.
It was the first game for Williams, a 6-7 guard ranked the fifth-best senior in the nation by 247Sports, after transferring from Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks). He didn't disappoint with 28 points, while Kentucky-bound
Brandon Boston, Jr. added 26 in defeat. Sierra Canyon lost again five days later, dropping a decisive 78-58 contest at No. 15 Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis).
WATCH TRAILBLAZERS VS EAGLES: ESPN 3
While the Trailblazers look to get back on track, the Eagles played Friday
San Ysidro (San Diego) and one of the nation's top freshmen in
Mikey Williams. Rancho Christian won going away, 103-71, as Mobley had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. According to the
San Diego Union-Tribune,
Luke Turner hit five three-pointers in the third quarter and scored 19 of his team-high 31 points for the winners.
Williams led all scorers with 35 points but it wasn't nearly enough.
Mobley, a 6-11 post who has signed to USC to join with his brother, Isaiah, and Harris, a Gonzaga commit, have other strong parts, including 6-2 junior
Jaden Byers and 6-4 senior guard
Jayce Catchings.
Besides the lethal scoring of Williams and Boston, the Trailblazers feature 5-star sophomore
Amari Bailey, 6-5 sophomore
Shy Odom and 6-7 senior
Terren Frank.
Bronny James, a 6-2 freshman, and
Zaire Wade, a 6-2 senior guard with offers to Toledo, Rhode Island and Depaul, add spark off the bench.
