“It’s been a journey for all of us,” said senior
Armari Carraway who had 13 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. “We got thrown into the fire straight up off the jump, playing great teams (this season). Once we started to gel together, everybody just bought in and we did it.”
Its the fifth straight win for the Panthers (26-9) who beat higher-seeded Vanden in the Regional finals on Tuesday.
Senior
Mike Davis Jr. led the way along with Carraway for San Joaquin Memorial, scoring 17 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
“We are really led by our two seniors, Mike and Armari,” said San Joaquin Memorial head coach Brad Roznovsky said. “They were the co-mvps of our league.”
The game went back and forth all night after a 13-13 tie ended the first. By halftime Pacifica Christian led 25-23.
Roznovsky said the halftime message was mainly given by an assistant with a simple request, “just hoop.”
San Joaquin Memorial took a 41-33 lead after junior
Dre Davis knocked down a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer. Davis finished with 8 points.
“When Dre shot the 3, it was a build on our momentum,” Davis Jr. said. “Once he hit that it was like a fire start.”
Senior Mike Davis Jr. had 17 points and 14 rebounds for San Joaquin Memorial. (Photo: David Steutel)
Davis Jr. put the Panthers up 10 immediately in the fourth quarter and the team just kept pushing, leading by as many as 15 with 5:42 left.
Pacifica Christian three-star senior
Parker Strauss (Northwestern) scored 11 points while adding four steals for the Tritons. Sophomore
E.J. Spillman and senior
Tanner Deal each added 11 points.
“This group has been special since the first day we were together,” Strauss said. “It’s just tough that this is how it’s gotta go. Tonight just wasn’t our night. It hurts that this is gonna have to end.”
It’s a special championship for Roznovsky, who graduated from San Joaquin Memorial in 1987. He highlighted Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, Quincy Pondexter and Jalen Green as previous program greats and said this win is for everyone who played before this championship squad.
The coach said he was mainly a baseball guy and that when he was called and offered the job he couldn’t believe it.
“I told the guy I thought he had the wrong number."
San Joaquin Memorial celebrates its 58-47 victory over Pacifica Christian on Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. (Photo: David Steutel)
