JSerra ‘battle tested,’ ready for CIF Division 1 final against top-seeded Crean Lutheran

JSerra Coach Keith Wilkinson (right) leads his team into the CIF Division 1 final Saturday. (Photo courtesy JSerra Athletics).

JSerra’s boys basketball team looks well prepared for its biggest game of the year Saturday.

The Lions (23-12) went through the rigorous Trinity League schedule recording a 3-2 mark along with a tough non-league schedule and Saturday at 4 p.m. they will face a major test vs. top-seeded Crean Lutheran in the CIF Division 1 final at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

JSerra is the No. 2 seed in the division and Saturday’s match-up has been anticpated since the draw was announced.

“Our group has been battled tested,” said JSerra Coach Keith Wilkinson. “I think we have played the best schedule in the country. We have played six of the top seven teams in the open this year. We have played the number one team in Arizona and Utah, and we have learned from those experiences to get better. We have a young group that has had to grow up quickly and they have bonded together and played great complimentary basketball.”

JSerra is led by 6-2 senior guard Jaden Bailes, who is averaging 20.3 points a game and 4.9 rebounds. He has made 106 3-pointers this season.

Another top player has been 6-9 sophomore Ryan Doane, who is averaging 11.2 points and 10.2 rebounds a game.

Earl Bryson, a 6-3 junior guard who has averaged 11.2 points a game and 6.1 assists and 6-6 junior Godschoice Eboigbodin, who is averaging 10.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, are other standouts for the Lions.

Wilkinson said his team has some keys in order to defeat Crean Lutheran (25-7).

“Crean {Lutheran{ is a huge team,” he said. “We must rebound the ball and limit second chance opportunities.”

JSerra is going for its second CIF title. The Lions won the 4A title in 2014. The 2021-22 team lost to St. Bernard in the CIF Division 1 final.

The Lions opened the playoffs defeating Pasadena 72-66, then defeated Loyola 75-46, Rolling Hills Prep 66-49 and Inglewood 103-91.

It will be the first meeting of the season between Austin Loeb’s Crean Lutheran team and JSerra. Both teams have also qualified for next week’s CIF So Cal Regionals and could meet again.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com