Sage Hill boys basketball team hopes to cap record-setting season with first CIF title

Sage Hill’s boys basketball team goes for a CIF title Saturday at Godinez. (Photo courtesy Sage Hill High School)

Sage Hill’s boys basketball players set some lofty goals before the season started.

The Lightning wanted to win the school’s first Academy League title, which they did with a 7-1 record and they also wanted to bring home a CIF title.

Sage Hill (22-10) will get that opportunity Saturday when it faces Santa Clara (26-6) in the CIF 5AA championship game at noon at Godinez.

“When we started this journey eight months ago we had two goals in mind: to win the Academy League championship and CIF title (both would be a first for boys’ basketball at Sage Hill),” said Coach Billy Conlon.

“I’ve never coached a team that was more focused and determined to achieve their goals. Their hard work, commitment and attention to detail is inspiring. Great teams have togetherness. They play hard and for each other. And this team embodies that. I am so proud of this group. They deserve it.

It’s already been a year of firsts for Sage Hill. Besides the first league title, it’s the first time the program has advanced past the second round of the CIF playoffs, Conlon said.

In addition, it’s the first Sage Hill team to eclipse the 20-win mark and 6-10 senior center Johnny King, who is averaging 16 points and 14 rebounds a game, is the first league MVP from the school.

King had a career best 31 points and 22 rebounds in the semifinal game against Bassett.

In addition, sophomore guard Cooper Green is averaging 12 points a game and leading the team in 3-pointers made.

Sage Hill enters the finals with plenty of momentum and a nine-game winning streak. Its last loss was against St. Margaret’s on Jan. 15.

In addition, Conlon points out the team was battle tested on its way to winning the league title.

“To win our very first league championship we had to defeat St. Margaret’s in the last game of the season, which we did 63-57 in overtime,” Conlon said. “Sage Hill was trailing by six points with 34 seconds to go in regulation before Cooper Green hit back to back threes, including the game tying shot with two seconds remaining to force overtime.”

Coach Conlon said he has impressed with the team’s work ethic. The team comes from the private Newport Beach school which has an enrollment of 540. Sage Hill has captured CIF titles in girls volleyball, girls tennis, boys tennis and baseball but this will be the school’s first time in the CIF boys basketball finals, according to Athletic Director Megan Cid.

Coach Conlon said the Lightning has put itself in that position through hard work.

“This team has many strengths, but our mental toughness is chief among them,” he said. “We don’t get too high or low, we stay focused on the task at hand – whether that be the next practice or next possession during a game. We have great leadership, a tremendous coaching staff and a fantastic support system (fans, administration, etc). We know that it takes more than just the 13 players in uniform to make it this far and I am so grateful just to be a part of it all.

“Our players deserve all the credit. This team is a resilient group that does not accept losing lightly. They strive to get better every single day. It’s an absolute joy and pleasure to coach these terrific young men.”

Conlon said he and his players are well aware of what is ahead against a talented Santa Clara team.

“We are looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “We have so much respect for Santa Clara and the season they have put together. They present a lot of tough match-ups, are very well coached and have some outstanding individual players. We’ll be ready to go. It should be fun and a great experience for our players.”

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