Video: Shareef O'Neal finishes on top
Watch the son of Shaquille O'Neal lead his Crossroads' squad to a state-title victory Friday night. S
ACRAMENTO, Calif. — All the tough scheduling early paid off.
Behind a near triple-double from Jordan Starr and 21 points by Justin Collins, Santa Clarita Christian won its first CIF state championships with a 78-66 victory over Argonaut in the Division 5 finals Saturday at the Golden 1 Center.
Starr finished with 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Cardinals shot 53 percent from the field (25 of 47) and committed just 10 turnovers to win virtually wire-to-wire.
Starr, a 6-foot-7 senior point guard, took just nine shots, but was aggressive toward the hoop, which resulted in 13 free throws (he made nine).
Two of his 10 assists came on three-pointers by Collins late in the second quarter to help build a big cushion. Collins took only 10 shots, but was 4-for-8 on three pointers.
Santa Clarita Christian senior Jordan Starr almost had a triple-double.
Photo by David Steutel
After starting the season 0-3, 1-4 and 2-8, the Cardinals finished winning 23 of 24 and their final 19 games in a row.
"We were pushed earlier in the summer and season playing the top teams," Collins said. "That definitely helped late in the season and today."
The Cardinals also got big games from Kaleb Lowery (12 points) and Caden Starr, the 6-6 sophomore brother of Jordan, but they needed all of it to hold off Argonaut (29-6), especially senior guard Adison Cramer.
The 6-3 standout exploded for 29 points and added 10 rebounds in one of the top performances by a high school player at Golden 1. Cramer made 8 of 17 field goals, including 4-for-9 on three-pointers, and he made 9 of 10 free throw tries.
He also got help from Seth Tomczak (12 points) and Jared Votaw (11).
Santa Clarita Christian junior Justin Collins had 21 points for the state champs.
Photo by David Steutel
Both teams shot the ball well — Argonaut at 46 percent — and the rebounds and assists were virtually identical.
A 24-12 run in the second quarter gave Santa Clarita Christian a 16-point halftime lead. The Mustangs actually outscored SCC in the second half, 41-37, but it wasn't enough.
Santa Clara Christian coach James Mosley, in his 16th year, said this group is not only the best team he's ever coached, "but they are a great group of kids," he said. "God gave me the chance to serve these kids and for that I'm truly blessed."
Santa Clarita Christian captured its first state title.
Photo by David Steutel
Santa Clarita Christian's James Mosley, in his 16th season as coach, captured his first state crown.
Photo by David Steutel
