St. John Bosco dominates in Open Division victory

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

St. John Bosco’s Christian Collins, left, blocks a shot attempt by Heritage Christian’s Tae Simmons in the Braves’ 69-39 win in a CIF-SS Open Division playoff game Friday. Photo by Howard Freshman

Image

By John W. Davis

correspondent

BELLFLOWER — The St. John Bosco basketball team knew what was at stake in a must-win game and delivered a dominant defensive performance to secure a 69-39 blowout victory over Heritage Christian in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs Friday night.

“I thought our guys executed a defensive game plan,” St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn said.

Bosco junior guard Brandon McCoy Jr. had a game-high 23 points, including 19 points in the second half. McCoy also grabbed 13 rebounds for his second consecutive postseason double-double.

“It took a lot,” McCoy said. “It was a rough game, physical game. I know we beat them in the past when I wasn’t playing, but it’s still an Open Division team, still a good team, so it took a lot.”

Junior forward Christian Collins had nine points and eight rebounds and senior guard Chris Komin added nine points. Senior guard Elzie Harrington and junior guard Gavin Dean-Moss both had eight points.

“Our guys really locked in and we did a pretty good job sharing the ball,” Dunn said. “It was a good effort by our guys for sure.”

The Braves improved to 26-5 overall and 2-1 in the Open Division. No. 3 seed Bosco will play at No. 2 seed Roosevelt (30-2, 3-0 Open Division) on Tuesday in the final game for Pool B. The winner will advance to the finals to play Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (26-6, 4-0) on Saturday at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Roosevelt beat Bosco 56-55 in overtime in the championship game of The Classic at Damien on Dec. 30. However, McCoy did not play as he was sidelined with a leg injury.

Heritage Christian (25-6, 0-3) was led by senior forward Tae Simmons with 18 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Dillan Shaw added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Simmons put the Warriors up 2-0 in the first quarter. From then on, it was practically all Bosco.

The Braves outscored the Warriors by a 17-9 margin in the second and led 32-15 at halftime.

McCoy’s fast break dunk off an assist from 7-foot junior center Howie Wu put Bosco up 34-15 early in the third quarter.

Dean-Moss’ steal and layup put Bosco up 43-24 late in the third quarter.

“Every game is important for me, especially for my team coming off the bench,” Dean-Moss said. “Bringing energy and trying to provide energy for the team coming off the bench. I’m always trying to help my team, my coaches, help my team win. Win a championship, win CIF, everything.”

McCoy hammered home of a fast break dunk to put Bosco up 52-35 with 6:34 to go.

McCoy kept attacking and scored Bosco’s first nine points of the fourth quarter.

“Whatever it takes to win,” McCoy said. “This journey has been a long journey, had some setbacks, but I’m in for a major comeback, even coming from last year, so whatever it takes to win.”