BELLFLOWER — Senior forward Noah Williams scored a game-high 23 points, including nine points in the fourth quarter, as Sierra Canyon boys basketball pulled out a 72-67 win at St. John Bosco in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs Friday night.
“The significance of it was my teammates, they always propel me forward,” said Williams, who has signed with Cal State Northridge. “If I was slacking, someone else would have stepped up… I think it’s very important that I lead and I lead by example.”
Sierra Canyon senior forward Noah Williams on his game-high 23 points in the Trailblazers’ 72-67 win at St. John Bosco in Game 1 of CIF-SS Open Division Pool A play on Friday Night. pic.twitter.com/USAdGQKoGr
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) February 10, 2024
Trailblazers coach Andre Chevalier said Williams’ senior leadership is always key.
“His leadership is wonderful and he’s going to be the one that leads us to the championship if we make it there,” Chevalier said.
Senior guard Justin Pippen had 20 points and six rebounds as the No. 5 seed Trailblazers improved to 25-2 overall and 1-0 in Pool A play. Junior guard Bryce Cofield had 12 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Isaiah Elohim had 12 points and five rebounds before being ejected in the third quarter.
“Our team has been working together all year long no matter what,” Chevalier continued. “We’ve had people sit out. Isaiah was injured at the beginning of the year, so we’re used to playing without people, so they just rally and support each other and help each other.”
No. 4 seed St. John Bosco (23-6) was led by sophomore guard Brandon McCoy Jr. with 21 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Jack Turner had 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Junior guard Elzie Harrington had 10 points.
Braves junior forward Kade Bonam had 10 points and four rebounds in his first game back since suffering a shoulder injury on Jan. 6.
“We’ve had the same issue all year long to be honest, until we’re really threatened we don’t do things right and then we fight like crazy to get back into it but when you’re doing that things need to go perfect and it’s hard for things to go perfect against really good teams,” St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn said. “We’ve had a couple of things we have not been able to fix all year long. Obviously, incredibly disappointing.”
St. John Bosco basketball coach Matt Dunn on his team’s 72-67 loss at home to Sierra Canyon in their CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff opener. @CoachDunn10 said @BoscoBasketball is going to focus on controlling what they can control with two games left in Pool A play. pic.twitter.com/avtrudv2Ct
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) February 10, 2024
Sierra Canyon’s Williams scored the first five points of the game. The Trailblazers’ defense employed a full-court press early, which McCoy broke for two early baskets, including a big slam dunk.
Turner made two early 3-pointers, which kept the Braves within striking distance, trailing 14-10 midway through the first quarter.
However, Cofield’s fast break slam dunk put Sierra Canyon up 18-11 late in the first.
Sierra Canyon’s length and athleticism helped it establish a 25-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
Harrington scored his only two points of the first half for the Braves with 5:51 left in the second. Sierra Canyon led 27-21.
The Braves began the second quarter by outscoring Sierra Canyon 10-6, which cut the Trailblazers’ lead to 31-25 with 3:27 left in the first half.
However, Sierra Canyon continued attacking the basket and led 39-30 at halftime.
Pippen and Williams both had 11 points in the first half. McCoy and Turner both had 11 points in the first half.
Halftime: Sierra Canyon 39, St. John Bosco 30.
SC’s Justin Pippen and Noah Williams both have 11 points.
Bosco’s Brandon McCoy Jr. and Jack Turner both have 11 points. pic.twitter.com/8nLKfEyKiT
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) February 10, 2024
McCoy’s four-point play in front of Bosco’s bench energized his teammates and cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 41-36 with 6:36 left in the third quarter. Harrington later made two free throws, which made it 41-38.
However, Williams knocked down a 3-pointer, which gave the Trailblazers a 48-40 lead with 4:07 remaining in the third.
The Braves responded by ramping up their defensive intensity right before an on-court tussle for the ball between Elohim and Turner, turned into a brief skirmish with 2:43 to go in the third.
Elohim was ejected and finished with 12 points.
A skirmish in Bellflower at the Sierra Canyon at St. John Bosco game. Benches clears. pic.twitter.com/V1Hp6AXPIh
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) February 10, 2024
Bosco cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 50-47 late in the third, after Turner made four consecutive free throws.
Sierra Canyon led 55-50 at the end of the third. The Trailblazers started the fourth on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Pippen’s fast-break dunk and led 62-50 before Bosco sophomore forward Dominic Perfetti’s corner 3-pointer made it 62-53.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Bonam cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 65-61 with 3:41 to go, forcing Chevalier to call a timeout to try to put a stop to the home team’s momentum.
Williams’ three-point play put Sierra Canyon up 69-62. However, another corner 3-pointer from Perfetti in front of the student section made it 69-65 with about two minutes to go.
Harrington’s steal and fast break slam dunk cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 69-67 with a minute to go. Bosco had an opportunity to tie or take a lead with less than 30 seconds to go but Bosco was called for an offensive foul before getting into their half-court offense.
“They all have great moments,” Dunn continued. “We just have too many inconsistent moments of doing the right thing.”
Sierra Canyon’s Williams was fouled, which was deemed flagrant with 16.9 seconds to go. He made both free throws. The Trailblazers retained possession up 71-67. Williams was fouled again with 8.8 seconds left. He made one of two free throws to seal the 72-67 victory.
“This is what I work for, the late nights, the early mornings,” Williams said. “I’m always shooting in different spots, getting to my spots and it just showed (Friday). The work is showing and it feels really good to know that.”
“Every Open Division game is a monster so we’re going to take one at a time and see what we can do,” Chevalier added. “We’re excited about it.”
Sierra Canyon boys basketball coach Andre Chevalier on his team’s 72-67 win at St. John Bosco in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs. pic.twitter.com/A9IsgDX1IM
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) February 10, 2024
UP NEXT
No. 4 St. John Bosco will host No. 8 Centennial on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
No. 5 Sierra Canyon will play at No. 1 Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Final: Sierra Canyon 72, St. John Bosco 67 in CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.
Sierra Canyon senior forward Noah Williams finished with a game-high 23 points, including nine points in the fourth quarter.
Bosco sophomore guard Brandon McCoy Jr. finished with team-high 21 points. pic.twitter.com/X8ethRiQxs
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) February 10, 2024