Fairmont Prep players celebrate after Saturday’s victory (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
When Pacifica Christian’s boys basketball team jumped out to an early 9-point lead, the Tritons might have been thinking this was going to be their night.
And that perhaps the third time, after two overtime losses in league play to the Huskies, was going to be a charm.
But San Joaquin League rival Fairmont Prep got untracked, tied the game after one quarter, outscored Pacifica Christian by 10 points in the second quarter and went on to win 52-49 in the CIF 4AA final Saturday night at Godinez.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
It’s the first CIF boys basketball title for the school.
“We played a very tough schedule and we played close games and those close games helped us tonight,” said Fairmont Prep Coach Joedy Gardner. “I’m so happy for our seniors; we only have two seniors (Kofi Aboagye and Abel Jimenez) and they did terrific.”
Gardner said his team (25-7) wasn’t rattled by the start.
“We were down 11-2 at the beginning but our team has been poised all year. They don’t get too high and they don’t get too low,” he said. “We’ve gotten behind before, so we just came together as a team and moved the ball and believed in each other.”
Junior Atin Wright, who is averaging more than 26 points a game, scored 28 points and made six 3-pointers to lead Fairmont Prep to its third victory this season over San Joaquin League rival Pacifica Christian.
Solomon Davis scored 20 points and Judah Brown 12 points to lead Pacifica Christian (23-8).
The Tritons outscored Fairmont Prep 17-10 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 39-36 going into the final quarter.
Fairmont Prep had to take out 6-8 center Pape Cisse after he picked up his fourth fourth midway through the third quarter and Pacifica Christian was able to take advantage.
The Tritons made a late charge and had a 49-48 lead on a 3-pointer by Houston Mallette with 1:10 left before Fairmont Prep rallied for the win.
Wright made two free throws with 1:04 remaining to put Fairmont Prep ahead 50-49. Kristian Jemerson scored on a layup with 17.9 seconds remaining to make it 52-49.
Fairmont Prep made 7 of 18 3-point field goals while Pacifica Christian suffered through a cold shooting night, going 4 from 25 from 3-point range.
“We were getting clean looks and the ball wasn’t going in,” said Pacifica Christian Coach Jeffrey Berokoff. “Sometimes that’s basketball, the ball doesn’t go in. They’re on their end hitting a fade-away three hand in the face and swish.
“That’s basketball. I say hats off to our kids for getting down 12 in the third quarter and fighting right back and they never gave up. We had a chance to win it and the ball just didn’t go down for us. We didn’t shoot it as well as we normally do and we didn’t rebound very well. That’s what happens.”
Kofi Aboagye added 14 ponts and 11 rebounds for Fairmont Prep, which celebrated by pouring onto the court to celebrate the title.
“It’s really all about the kids,” Gardner said. “I won one at another school, a national championship. Every time you win one, they become sweeter. So it’s sweet; my staff works so hard. These kids have worked so hard and bought into what we’re about. This is the first time we’ve ever won anything at Fairmont Prep as far as boys are concerned.
“We’re excited; we were on a five-year plan. I’ve been there three years and we’re a little early, which means now they’re going to expect more which is going to be more pressure on all of us.”
Berokoff, the Pacifica Christian coach, remained proud of what his team accomplished. Both the Tritons and Huskies will continue on into the state tournament beginning Tuesday.
“We’re building a school and it’s our third year as a varsity program,” he said. “There are 170 kids there and these kids love their school and they love their teachers and we love them. This team loves each other and they love their fans and they play hard and they do wear their emotions on their sleeves. That’s OK at times, they’re teenagers. I’m really proud of my kids and proud to be their coach.”
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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