By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
Basketball Streaks End
Basketball's version of "The Streak" came to and end last week. Both of them.
Montrose Christian, Md., defeated Oak Hill Academy, Va., 74-72, to end the Warriors' 56-game winning streak, while Southwest Atlanta Christian, Ga., defeated Randolph-Clay, Ga., 69-65, to end a 90-game winning streak.
Oak Hill Academy, poised to capture its second-straight USA Today national title and ranked No. 2 in the MaxPreps national boy's basketball poll, was 40-0 this season before falling to Montrose Christian Saturday night. Kevin Durant, a 6-10 center who played at Oak Hill last year, led the Mustangs with 31 points.
Despite Durant's heroics, it was Adrian Bowie's put-back, bank-shot with time expiring that gave Montrose Christian the two-point victory.
In Georgia, Randolph-Clay entered last Wednesday's Class A semifinal game with Southwest Atlanta Christian sporting a 29-0 record on the season and a 90-game win streak overall dating back to the beginning of the 2004 season. Randolph-Clay had won each of its 29 games this season by double figures.
Star senior guard Javaris Crittenton, who will play at Georgia Tech University next year, score 27 points in the win for the Warriors.
Low Joins Elite Club
Brandon Low completed his quest to become a wrestling legend in the state of Hawaii Saturday, capturing his fourth state title with an 8-4 win over Daniel Morita of Kahuku.
The Saint Louis High School senior is just the third Aloha State wrestler to capture state titles as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior, and the first to do it in four separate weight classes.
Low won the 130-pound division this year and finished his career with a 136-6 record. He conquered the 112-pound, 119-pound, and 125-pound weight classes in 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively.
Morita came into the match with impressive credentials of his own, boasting state titles in 2004 and 2005, and had not lost to a wrestler from the state of Hawaii since being defeated by Low in the 2003 119-pound championship.
Free Hockey
Overtime in any sport is a pressure-packed situation, where competitors and fans alike hang on every moment, every call by the officials, and every tick of the clock. Six overtimes is downright cruel.
That's exactly what happened last Thursday night in Madison, Wis., when Wisconsin Rapids High defeated Middleton 2-1 in six overtimes in the longest state tournament hockey game in Badger State history.
The game spanned 98 minutes and 33 seconds, with Wisconsin Rapids junior Anthony Knuth providing the game-winner just 27 seconds before a seventh overtime period would have commenced.
Despite the tension-filled environment, Middleton students brought a touch of levity by chanting "Cancel School" during the fourth overtime, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The Chase Is On
It's doubtful that any high school basketball player in the country will have a more dominant performance in a title game this year than La Costa Canyon, Calif., senior forward Chase Budinger.
The future Arizona Wildcat racked up 50 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocked shots in leading La Costa Canyon past Eastlake, 85-73, Saturday night to capture the school's first San Diego Section title.
Budinger's outburst included six three-point field goals, prompting the San Diego Union-Tribune's Steve Brand to write, "Chase Budinger may be the best all-around high school basketball player in San Diego history."
Southridge Wins Showdown With Oregon City
Southridge entered Saturday night's basketball showdown with Oregon City as the defending 4A girls champion in the state of Oregon. Across the floor, Oregon City came in as winners of the same title 10 of the last 14 years. The two teams had combined for a 50-6 record this season.
After falling behind 14-1 to begin the game, Southridge came away with its second-straight 4A title, beating Oregon City 55-46. Michelle Jenkins, a 6-3 sophomore, led the Skyhawks with 17 points and eight rebounds, while USC-bound Aarika Hughes chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The game included at least six future Division I players. In addition to Hughes, Southridge features future college players in J.J. Hones (Stanford), Stacey Nichols (Oregon State), and Kelly Vega (Sacramento State). Jenkins will be a top recruit in the class of 2008. Oregon City's Kristen Zimel will play at Boise State next year.
Photo by Chris Williams: La Costa Canyon's Chase Budinger
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