MORAGA, CA – Salesian may have entered Saturday’s NCS Division III Championship game as a significant favorite, but Campolindo gave a valiant effort in the Pride’s 55-40 victory. James Akinjo scored a game-high 17 points for the Pride, while Will Cummins led the Cougars with 13.
“We played a lot of different combinations,” Salesian coach Bill Mellis said. “Campolindo…took a lot of things away from us. We had to knock down some shots. Ultimately we got defensive stops down the stretch.”
Campolindo kept pace early thanks to a handful of three-pointers and trailed by just six at halftime. But Salesian’s defense prevented the Cougars from ever making a run, and in the fourth the offense padded the lead to create a final score that was not necessarily indicative of the game.
“We’re playing some of our best basketball right now,” Campolindo coach Steven Dyer said. “I think we ran out of gas a little bit in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to execute your offense against them because they’re so quick.”
Jamario Bibb added 13 points and JoVon McClanahan tacked on eight for the Pride, while Carter Mahaney and Lev Garcia scored nine and eight, respectively, for the Cougars. Campolindo hit five three-pointers, but all in the first half, as greater perimeter pressure by the Salesian defense limited both attempts and efficiency. Salesian netted just two from distance and had only two more free throws than Campolindo, meaning the Pride gained its advantage simply by more two-point field goals made.
“We had to grind it out and make a lot of shots,” Akinjo said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. We all sacrifice. We don’t look it as a bench. We’re all the starters.”
No. 1 Salesian had an easy ride to the title game, having blown out San Marin and Kennedy by more than 40 points each after a first round bye. No. 2 Campolindo had double digit victories against Analy in the Semifinal and Hercules in the Quarterfinal.
Salesian brings home its second straight NCS championship plaque, having defeated St. Patrick-St. Vincent in last year’s Division IV bout. The Pride were moved up to Division III due to the competitive equity rule the NCS adopted last spring.
