FAB 50 No. 46 Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.) makes use of stout protection and good capturing from the foul line to defeat Redondo Union (Redondo Seaside, Calif.), 71-63, to seize the celebrated Platinum Division title at The Basic at Damien in SoCal. Nationally ranked membership is first from Arizona to seize the highest division within the occasion’s nine-year historical past.
The title recreation of the Platinum Division of The Basic at Damien on Tuesday night between Sunnyslope of Arizona and Redondo Union of Southern California was a forwards and backwards affair within the first half. That was no large shock. In spite of everything, the 2 golf equipment have been FAB 50 ranked at varied instances this season, Redondo Union already owned a win over FAB 50 No. 46 Sunnyslope this season and was coming into the event with loads of momentum after capturing the Platinum Division on the Tarkanian Basic earlier than the Christmas vacation.
Redondo Union led at halftime, 27-25, however Sunnyslope 6-foot-10 junior heart Darius Wabbington cursed himself going into the locker room on the Damien Athletic Middle for lacking two late free throws. Wabbington, an agile and expert put up participant and one of many nation’s finest prospects within the 2027 class, was on the lookout for perfection and likewise knew how good of a workforce Redondo Union is. He knew each level and each possession mattered. The Sea Hawks beat the Vikings, 68-64, on the BattleZone occasion in SoCal on November 22 in a recreation during which the boys from Arizona could not maintain a fourth quarter lead.
Wabbington took it upon himself to atone for these two missed free throws, developing with 16 factors within the second half and making all 10 of his free throw makes an attempt to steer Sunnyslope to a 71-63 victory to seize probably the most prestigious division on the ninth annual The Basic at Damien. With the win, Sunnyslope turns into the primary Arizona Interscholastic Affiliation (AIA) member college to seize the highest division of the event.
“It is actually prestigious to be the primary Arizona workforce to win it,” mentioned Sunnyslope coach Ray Portela, the Ballislife Nationwide Coach of the 12 months in 2020-21. “It is a nice event. Coach (Mike) Leduc and his workers do an excellent job. Salesian and St. John Bosco are actually good, and so are a few of the different groups, too.”
Wabbington helped Sunnyslope (13-1) take management of the sport with a sequence of stellar performs within the third interval when it regained the lead for the primary time since early within the first interval. He gave the Vikings the a 35-34 lead with 5:42 within the third interval on a lay-up. Wabbington then hit a step again nine-footer to present his workforce a three-point lead. After clearing a rebound, Wabbington bought fouled on a soar shot try. He made each free throws and by that point, one might sense Sunnyslope’s rising confidence in its probabilities to drag out the victory.
Wabbington completed with 22 factors and a game-high 12 rebounds, making 10-of 12 free throws. As a workforce Sunnyslope made 27-of-30 free throws, together with 24-of-25 after intermission. Redondo Union shot 15 free throws and made 11 for the sport.
“They bought us frantic early, however at halftime we advised our guys let’s simply play our recreation, taking part in quick, that is their model,” Portela mentioned. “We began to do what we do, we hit our free throws and locked down defensively.”
The Sea Hawks have been removed from finished, regardless of Sunnyslope making its foul pictures and limiting Redondo Union’s second probability alternatives within the second half. Redondo Union (14-3) trailed 60-56 with a minute to play, however on a key possession after a timeout, 5-foot-10 junior guard Delton Prescott took his Redondo defender inside for a key bucket. After each groups exchanged a free throw make, Sea Hawks reserve ahead Kaiden Wilson hit a straight-away 3-pointer to make it a one possession recreation (63-60).
With 15.3 seconds remaining, the Sea Hawks fouled Wabbington, who calmly canned each free throws. The Sea Hawks turned the ball over at mid-court on their ultimate possession and Redondo Union coach Reggie Morris Jr. had some alternative phrases for the officers and was hit with two technicals. The following free throws made the sport’s ultimate margin seem a lot bigger than it actually was.
“At halftime, I bought my head into the sport,” Wabbington mentioned. “I centered the remainder of the way in which and because of God for what he does.”
Prescott’s presence, ball-handling and clutch performs made an enormous distinction and he was chosen the event’s MVP, becoming a member of the likes of two-time MVP Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers through Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) and present UCLA guard Donovan Dent through Centennial (Corona, Calif.). He made all 9 of his free throws and completed with 22 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Additionally making the all-tourney workforce was Colorado-bound Rider Portela, the son of the pinnacle coach, who completed with 9 factors, six rebounds and two assists.
For the event, Prescott averaged 17.5 ppg, whereas Wabbington averaged 19.5 ppg and 10.8 rpg.
Redondo Union was led by unsigned senior guard Chace Holley, who adopted up his terrific efficiency within the championship recreation of the Tarkanian Basic with one other superlative outing. He darted to the basket and transformed on a plethora of pictures, ending with a game-high 31 factors. It is solely a matter of time earlier than he lands a number of D1 scholarship gives. Nevada-bound guard S.J. Madison joined Holley on the all-tournament workforce, ending with 11 factors 10 rebounds and three steals.
In 4 video games, Holley averaged 16.5 ppg, whereas Madison averaged 20.8 ppg.
It was a historic win for Sunnyslope, however Portela and his troops are maintaining a tally of the larger prize, and that’s capturing this system’s first AIA open division state title. The Vikings have performed in two of the three AIA open state title video games however have but to win all of it. It is not onerous to think about a 2026 AIA open state ultimate that includes Sunnyslope and FAB 50 No. 28 Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.). There are many powerful video games on the docket, nevertheless, earlier than Arizona hoop followers can look in direction of that potential recreation. In truth, there’s a chance Sunnyslope and Millennium might meet within the title recreation of Hoophall West in Arizona this Saturday, January 3.
Sunnyslope opens the eight-team bracket with Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) on January 1, 2026. The Vikings will possible play the DeMatha Catholic (Maryland)-Gonzaga Prep (Washington) winner on January 2. Millennium has a harder street to the ultimate, however even when the 2 golf equipment do not meet on Saturday, they’ve a home-and-home collection to finish on January 21 and February 10.
They (Redondo Union) beat us, and in my view, they should not have (the primary time),” Wabbington mentioned. “We missed some free throws and did not rebound. Our belief as a gaggle is getting higher. Most of us have been collectively for 3 or 4 years. The chemistry we now have collectively, you may simply inform we now have it on the courtroom.”
Within the event semifinals, Sunnyslope had no main issues with Crespi (Encino, Calif.), because the Vikings outscored the Celts in every of the primary two quarters after which blew the sport open with a 21-10 third quarter benefit to win, 65-48, in a recreation that was by no means unsure.
Crespi made solely 18-of-47 discipline targets, together with 2-of-9 3-pointers. Sunnyslope knocked down 9-of-19 3-pointers and made 25-of-52 discipline targets.
Wabbington dominated the inside, ending with 21 factors and 15 rebounds. Prescott, Sunnyslope’s dynamic junior level guard, added 14 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Crespi was led by junior ahead Rodney Mukendi with 13 factors. Crespi upset FAB 50 No. 25 Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) within the quarterfinals, 70-67. In that recreation, Carter Barnes and junior Jasiah Williams mixed for 31 factors for the Celts.
Salesian ended up 3-1 within the event, together with a 61-58 comfort victory over No. 38 St. John Bosco. The Braves misplaced within the quarterfinals to Sunnyslope in time beyond regulation, 61-54, after Bosco’s Christian Collins had an opportunity to present his workforce a one level lead within the closing second, however missed the second of two free throws as the sport went into time beyond regulation.
Redondo Union took aside Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) in its semifinal contest, 79-55, because the Sea Hawks led 44-22 at halftime and by no means took their foot off the fuel. Madison completed with 23 factors, Holley completed with 15 factors and Wilson had a terrific all-around recreation with 15 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks and two steals.
Within the third place recreation, Crespi avenged a 60-57 loss to Crean Lutheran earlier this month with a hard-fought 57-54 win.
Crespi led 46-43 after which Isaiah Barnes scored two driving lay-ups to make it 50-43 midway by means of the fourth interval earlier than two technical fouls on Crean Lutheran created some separation. Crespi went up 52-43 after the technical foul pictures, however the Saints battled again and with 33 seconds remaining and his workforce main by three, Crespi’s Kingston Smith got here up with a steal that led to 2 made free throws.
With 26.5 ticks remaining, Crespi’s Carter Barnes knocked down two free throws to develop the lead again to 3, and that was the ultimate margin after Crean Lutheran’s final probability to tie the sport on its ultimate possession was thwarted when Crespi’s Christian Tshina-Nzambi intercepted an inbounds move meant for the Saints’ Hunter Caplan, the workforce’s prime 3-point risk.
Isaiah Barnes, Carter’s twin brother and the sons of former NBA participant Matt Barnes, led the way in which for Crespi with 22 factors and was a Platinum Division all-tourney choice.
Minnesota-bound heart Chadrack Mpoyi made his presence felt all recreation and completed with 31 factors, seven rebounds and three blocks for fourth place Crean Lutheran.
Gold Division: Folsom (Calif.) 68, Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) 58
The Sac Joaquin Part energy used execution and well timed capturing to knock off a workforce with aspirations of capturing the CIF Southern Part D1 crown.
Folsom (9-4) grew its result in as large as 9 factors early within the third interval, however RHP climbed again into the sport. Rolling Hills Prep bought to inside some extent (44-43) on an influence lay-up by junior heart Nick Welch Jr. within the closing seconds of the third interval, however Folsom’s Parks Weaver raced to a contested left-hand lay-up because the buzzer sounded.
Folsom took management within the fourth interval by forcing turnovers, contesting pictures and getting level clean appears to be like by executing in transition. The Bulldogs took a 59-45 lead with 3:45 remaining within the recreation on back-to-back 3-pointers by Chico St.-bound Joven Dulay and Weeaver, their tremendous sophomore.
Weaver completed with 16 factors whereas divisional MVP Dulay had 13 factors. Weaver made all-tournament as did Jack Shull, who completed with 12 factors.
Junior guard Carter Fulton led Rolling Hills Prep (13-3) with 23 factors on 18 shot makes an attempt. No different participant on RHP shot greater than eight instances (beginning wing Josahn Webster).
Diamond Division: Los Alamitos (Calif.) 60, Auburn (Wash.) 53
Auburn took a 24-16 lead after one quarter and was forward 47-43 coming into the fourth interval, however was outscored by the Griffins within the ultimate interval, 17-6.
Los Alamitos (8-6) bought to inside 47-45 with one minute elapsed within the fourth interval, however a turnover led to a bucket by Auburn’s Daniel Johnson. Los Al lastly tied the sport at 53-53 with simply over three minutes to play and the Griffins took a 56-53 lead with 2:31 remaining on a 3-pointer by Tyler Lopez.
Trailing 57-53 with 30 seconds remaining, the Griffins performed hold away as Auburn waited till there have been 11.9 seconds to go earlier than lastly fouling Lopez. He made considered one of two free throws, then stole the ball at mid-court after the inbounds move and completed the play with an emphatic dunk at hand the Trojans their first lack of the season.
Lopez, a 6-foot-5 senior, was named divisional MVP and completed with a game-high 20 factors, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Los Al out-rebounded beforehand unbeaten Auburn, 47-31.
Johnson led Auburn with 16 factors.
Silver Division: Brentwood (Los Angeles) 75, Millikan (Lengthy Seaside, Calif.) 68
A nip-and-tuck affair bought broke open within the third interval, as Brentwood opened up a double-digit lead in that interval behind the play of junior level guard A.J. Okoh and sophomore energy large Ethan Hill. The win pushed Brentwood’s season document to 17-1.
Brentwood has solely misplaced to FAB 50 No. 28 Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.).
Millikan was capable of minimize its deficit to 66-64 on a 3-pointer by senior Jalen Stewart, however Okoh answered with a triple of his personal with 1:30 remaining to assist maintain off the pesky Rams.
Okoh, one of many higher junior guards in SoCal, completed with 23 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists. Hill completed with 32 factors and 18 rebounds.
Senior Jeremiah Hunt nailed 7-of-13 3-pointers and scored 34 factors for Millikan (11-6).
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Remember to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
