In a back and forth game characterized by frantic energy and pressure defense, it was only fitting that a turnover in the final seconds spurred host Heritage to a 42-40 upset victory over BVAL champion Deer Valley on Thursday night, in a game that kicked off an exciting weekend of basketball across the section.
The Patriots actually led by six points late in the third quarter, but then trailed for most of the fourth quarter, tying the game at 35 when junior Brad Ehlen hit a three from the top of the arc, and again at 40 with 30 seconds remaining in the game. With the shot clock turned off and Deer Valley in possession, however, it appeared as if the Wolverines would have the final chance to win the game in regulation.
With three fouls to give, Heritage (11-15, 5-5 BVAL) used one of them early in the possession to force another sideline inbound play. Deer Valley then decided to let the clock dwindle to under 15 seconds before starting its move on the offensive end. A drive into the paint resulted with a pass attempt under the basket, but Heritage's Travis Simmons was there to knock the ball loose, and junior guard Lamar Murphy grabbed it under the basket. Murphy took two dribbles to get out of the paint, and then found a streaking Isaiah Hinds towards the other end of the floor. Murphy's long pass landed perfectly in front of Hinds, who gathered the ball on his next stride and calmly laid it off the backboard for the go-ahead lay-up with 2.8 seconds remaining in the game.
In the chaos, it was unclear when the Wolverines had called timeout, but the officials granted the stoppage from the time the basket was made. The long three attempt off the inbound, however, went harmlessly off the backboard, handing Deer Valley (17-9, 9-1) its first loss of the league season, a lone blemish for a team which captured the program's first league title in seven years.
Heritage senior Sebastian Duran led all scorers with 13 points, while Murphy had 11 points and Hinds added nine points for the Patriots, who became playoff-eligible with the victory.
Both teams are expected to make the NCS Division I playoff field.
Salesian holds off St. Pat's for TCAL title
After claiming a narrow three-point win in their previous meeting, Salesian was prepared for St. Patrick-St. Vincent in the TCAL-Rock title game on Saturday night, and the Pride maintained a double-digit lead for the entire final quarter to post a 57-44 victory.
Shane Bell and Austin Johnson had 11 points each to lead Salesian, while Te'Jon Sawyer had eight points and 17 rebounds to dominate the paint. Jaden Alexander, meanwhile, went 13-of-16 from the line and racked up 21 points for St. Pat's to lead all scorers.
Salesian started fast, going up 16-9 after one quarter and extending the lead to 30-20 at the half. Demarshay Johnson, Jr. scored all six of his points in the first quarter for Salesian, while Ilias Manias had all five of his points in the first half for the Pride.
Moreau Catholic splits MVAL title with Washington
DJ Johnson led three Mariners in double figures as Moreau Catholic avenged an earlier loss to Washington with a 65-55 victory on Friday night to earn a share of the league title.
Johnson had 14 points to go with a whopping 17 rebounds, while Donovan Tynes added 12 points and dual-sport standout Kaleb Elarms-Orr had 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Around the NCS
Alameda wrapped up a 10-0 campaign in the WACC-Shoreline with its 72-34 victory over Tennyson. The Hornets were 6-10 in non-league play before blowing past league competition.
Vintage edged American Canyon, 71-68, to punctuate its outright title in the Vine Valley. The Crushers finished 10-2 in league play, two games better than Petaluma and Sonoma Valley.
Bishop O'Dowd wrapped up an unbeaten season in the WACC-Foothill with a 92-64 win over Berkeley, while San Leandro beat Piedmont for the second time to finish in second place, with Piedmont alone in third place.
