By Tim Peterson
(Pasadena) – Maranatha took the lead with just over four minutes left in the game but was outscored 11-1 down the stretch and fell to San Gabriel Academy 58-49 Tuesday night in the CIF Division III State Regional Finals.
George Pamilton hit a shot in the lane with 4:08 left to give the Minutemen a 48-47 lead. But they could only manage to score one point, a free throw by Jagger Topp, the rest of the way.
Maranatha had climbed all the way back into the game after being down 34-19 early in the third quarter. San Gabriel Academy was up by nine at the half and then went on a quick 6-0 run to open the third quarter for a 15-point advantage. Manadou Traore threw down a jam to cap the run and force a Maranatha timeout.
The Minutemen countered with a 7-0 run of its own to get right back in it at 34-26. They still trailed by five at the end of three but made a move in the fourth.
Chris Smith hit a couple of huge threes in the final frame including one that turned into a four-point play to cut the Eagles lead to 47-44. Smith got hurt on the play but Bryan Lopez-Wood came on to hit the free throw. Smith was able to return.
Just over a minute later the Minutemen took the lead but were unable to hold on.
It didn’t help that Harrison Harper injured his ankle in the last two minutes and was unable to finish the game.
In the first half Mahamadou Diop had eight points and Traore scored five as the Eagles led 28-19 at the break.
They had just enough left to hold off Maranatha after the Minutemen rally in the final minutes to get the win.
For the Eagles Xavier Wang had 10 points including some key free throws down the stretch. Diop, who was a force inside, led the way with 16 and Traore and Mohamed Toure each scored nine.
Smith was the only one in double figures for Maranatha with 12. Lopez-Wood and Giacomo Manzella each had eight. Manzella and Smith both hit two threes. Harper battled the big boys inside all night and finished with nine points.
Maranatha had a memorable season advancing to the State Regional Finals for the first time in school history. The Minutemen ended the season at 17-18 overall.
San Gabriel Academy advances to the State Championship game this weekend in Sacramento.
MAR 11 08 15 15 49
SGA 13 13 11 19 58
Loading ...
Leave a Reply