Andrew Gardiner, McKenzie Alton win MaxPreps Holiday Classic 3-point shooting contests

As the Rancho Mirage High School gym filled for the Open Division semifinal games, Brentwood School (Los Angeles) senior Andrew Gardiner noted the change of energy, both his own and from the crowd.

"There wasn't an empty seat anywhere," Gardiner said. "I'm not going to lie. I was getting nervous."

That's because he and three others had made the finals of the 3-point contest, which started with 104 competitors.

When the dust from the twine had finally settled, Gardiner was the best of the bunch, scoring a 17 to edge Ali Aiken (16) and Jake Hirayama (14).

Through all the nerves and noise, Gardiner said he centered on only a select few spectators.

"The nice part about winning this was having my coaches, teammates and parents in the stands," he said. "I could hear them the whole time. It was nice to win it for them and the school."

It was a nice gesture for a nice young lad, who is also a lights-out shooter. Not just in contests, but for Brentwood School (10-1), which plays for the Qwixcore championship Tuesday against Foss (Tacoma, Wash.). Gardiner is perhaps the team's top shooter on a team full of them.

It's a skill he picked up as a young man.

"I've always been a shooter," he said. "I was a little pudgy kid and I was already white, but especially slow and lazy. The only way I could score was shooting from range."

Gardiner's candor was refreshing, as was his outlook of the entire event.

"This is the third year we've come out here and we just love it," he said. "Besides the competition, I love the dunk contest and obviously the 3-point contest. So for me to win it, I'm very, very happy. It's a great moment for all of us."

First-time winner

Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.) junior McKenzie Alton won the girls 3-point contest by scoring a career-high 16 in an overtime round against Paige Tademaru (Marymount-Los Angeles) and Gracie Marx (Archer School for Girls-Los Angeles).

All three girls scored 11 in the finals — forcing an extra round — then Alton really got it rolling, drilling eight of 10 3-pointers in the middle rounds to win going away.

"For me it's all about the motion and then just swinging into my shot and getting the ball into the air," Alton said.

Alton didn't know that she was going to be in the competition until her coach told her so. She scored enough in the morning round to qualify with four other finalists to showdown with the boys.

When the crowd started to grow during the first quarter of the semifinal game, "I could feel my nerves growing," she said. "I was definitely nervous."

It didn't show. "This should be a nice confidence boost to know I can compete with others."