San Juan Hills players, coaches and supporters celebrate after the team captured the CIF 2A title Friday night. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).
John McFadden had waited too long for this moment to let it slip away.
With his top-seeded San Juan Hills trailing host La Mirada by eight points after one quarter, the 6-foot-7 senior poured in 12 of his game-high 25 points in the second period as the Stallions rallied to stifle the Matadors 59-49 before an energized capacity crowd in the CIF Division 2A boys basketball title game Friday night.
It’s the first CIF boys basketball title for the school.
“My team was a little down, and I thought, ‘there’s no way we’re losing this game,’ “McFadden said. “Mark (Reichner) and I have been on the varsity for four years and this team has been together for two years and our goal has always been the same, to win CIF. We didn’t get it done last year, but we got it this year and now we’re happy.”
Really happy.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
The Stallions were a little tentative at the start and the Matadors led 14-6 after one and 21-12 into the second before McFadden took over, hitting three 3-pointers spaced around two 3’s and three drives to the basket.
And while those numbers always get everyone’s attention, as is usually the case, it was San Juan’s stifling 3-2 half court zone defense that was the game-changer.
After finding some open spots in the zone, and hitting the shots, the Matadors, who had won 10 games in a row to get to its first-ever CIF basketball final, suddenly found opportunities rare and difficult.
“I wasn’t happy with the way we started the game,” San Juan Coach Jason Efstathiou said. “We were probably a little nervous. It was a CIF championship game. But once John got going, it kind of fueled our team.
Struggling against the zone, La Mirada had one stretch where it hit only 3 of 21 shots and managed one rebound.
That allowed the Stallions (25-4) to lead by 12 after three, a margin they effectively protected through the final eight minutes.
La Mirada (17-14) was led by Athan Serra with 13 points, Julian Gomez with 11 and Jarrett Cole with 8.
In addition to McFadden’s 25 points, San Juan Hills got 11 points from Reichner and 8 from Marcus Parks.
Both teams will have a game next week in the Southern California regionals. Pairings will be announced Sunday.
—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone
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