ANTIOCH, Calif. — It's hard to put one's game face on for an All-Star game. But
Takai Emerson-Hardy said he was prepared to "handle business" in Sunday's 12th Annual NorCal Clash showcase at Cornerstone Christian.
When a junior group of standouts (Class of 2023) scored 14 of the first 17 points of the second half, the 6-foot-7 wing from
Vanden (Fairfield) picked it up a notch.
He scored the next eight points for the seniors (Class of 2022), added nine more in the decisive fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 27 points leading his team to a 102-92 victory. Emerson-Hardy, who said he has 10 Division I offers, added five steals and three assists, while making 11-of-17 from the floor.
All of it helped earn him the game's MVP award though he had plenty of help from fellow 6-7 frontcourt players
Derrick Claxton, of
Inderkum (Sacramento), and
Miles Bird, of
Lincoln (Stockton).
Claxton made 11-of-13 shots, added seven rebounds en route to 23 points, and Byrd contributed 16 points (8-of-12 shooting), nine rebounds and six assists.
Emerson-Hardy said a narrow loss last week in a Simply Basketball All-Star game at Modesto Christian was a motivating factor in Sunday's performance.
"I was definitely more locked in today," Emerson-Hardy said. "I felt like we had to win."
NorCal Clash MVP Takai Emerson-Hardy holds his trophy after leading 2022 team to victory.
Photo by Mitch Stephens
Said 2022 point guard
Jojo Murphy, of
Piedmont, who had 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists: "We couldn't lose to a bunch of juniors," he said with a grin.
The juniors were short handed — literally — shortly after the opening tip as
Derek Sangster, a 6-7 forward from
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), injured his shoulder. It didn't appear to be a serious injury, but he was kept out the rest of the way.
Not only did the loss of Sangster hurt 2023s low post presence, but its depth as well. Only seven players were left.
Joey Kennedy, a 6-6 low block player with perimeter skills from
University (San Francisco), more than picked up the slack with a team-high 23 points (10-of-13 from the floor) and game-high 10 rebounds. But he couldn't cover all the inside players.
In the meantime, the 2022 stars had trouble staying with all the backcourt quickness and scoring from the juniors, who got 22 points from 6-3
Granite Bay guard
Yaqub Mir, 15 points by 5-10
St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) guard
Ahmaree McCullough and 13 from 6-foot
Rodriguez (Fairfield) guard
Leroy Bryant.
Down by as many as 12 in the first half, the juniors picked up the heat in the third quarter, outscoring the seniors 24-18 to take a lead heading into the fourth. That's when Emerson-Hardy, Claxton and Byrd absolutely dominated to win going away.
The 2022 stars scored 10 of the final 12 points of the game, three baskets on breakaway dunks, one each by the team's 6-7 standouts. Byrd, Claxton and Emerson-Hardy were a combined 30-of-42 from the floor.
"It was a lot of fun being out there," said Emerson-Hardy, who played football most of his youth before giving it up full-time for basketball. He said he'll narrow his college choices in the near future but is in no hurry to pick. "I've known and played with most of these guys in AAU for years. Us all being on the same side and competing felt great."
Especially while collecting the game's MVP award. "Oh yes," while holding and looking down at his trophy. "This was icing on the cake."
NOTES: The highest rated senior in the event,
Campolindo (Moraga) point guard
Aidan Mahaney didn't play due to a nagging ankle sprain. "I probably could have gone but it's more important to try to win another state title in March then play today," Mahaney said. "But it was fun being out here. I can't wait until our first (Campolindo) game on Nov. 27." … A fastbreak alley-oop pass from Murphy to a high-flying Byrd in the final minute was the highlight play of the event. Byrd sent the pass at the rim straight down… The Mobley brothers from
Weston Ranch (Stockton),
Elliot and
Elijah, gave the 2023 team great energy throughout. In just 17 minutes, Elijah had eight points, eight rebounds and two steals. Both are 6-foot guards. … The teams were just 13 of 46 on 3-pointers (28 percent), though
Aidan Braccia, a senior for
Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), definitely had the best looking stroke. … Mir, a free-wheeling 6-3 guard, had the shot of the game, losing his dribble, regaining the ball, then stepping back off one foot for a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer. He was under heavy duress and the ball barely rippled the net. … Kennedy, lightly regarded before last spring, has really picked up his game. He battled inside and more than held his own with the 2022 standouts. He showed great toughness, touch and footwork. Kennedy averaged 18.2 points, 10 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, while earning The San Francisco Chronicle's co-Regional Player of the Year in San Francisco.
