SAN JOSE, CA — Coming into Wednesday night’s WCAL game Serra hadn’t won a game at Mitty since 2004.
That all changed Wednesday as the Padres prevailed 46-43 behind some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch.
“Our defense was really solid; we held them to 11 points (in the first half) and holding Mitty to 11 points at Mitty you know you are doing something right,” said Serra coach Chuck Rapp. “We didn’t give them any good looks. We were physical and denied the lanes and played really good defense and that’s how you win on the road.”
Serra (12-3, 4-1) led Mitty 23-11 at halftime.
But Mitty didn't go away quietly.
The Monarchs (9-6, 3-2) went on an 11-0 run over the last four minutes of the third quarter to cut Serra’s lead to 30-28 going into the fourth quarter.
“Mitty is a championship program. You knew they were going to have an answer at home,” said Rapp. “You knew there was going to be a big run in the second half and it wasn’t just a punch it was a haymaker. But we got up off the canvas and kept battling and nobody panicked. We just kept to the system, playing hard and believing.”
Mitty got its first lead of the game at 32-30 with 6:45 left in the game but Lee Jones was able to tie it back up 32-32 after sinking two free throws -- Serra's first points in over six minutes of play.
Serra got the lead back soon after with three more points by Jones and while never being able to build its lead bigger than four the rest of the game, they didn’t allow Mitty to get within three points until the end.
“When you dig yourself a 13-point hole, you’re clawing your way back and using a lot of energy,” said Mitty coach Tim Kennedy. “They’re a great team. They got us off our cuts and catching the ball in tough spots and we weren’t responding well to it.”
After scoring only three points in the first half, Mitty junior forward Ben Kone came alive in the second half scoring 17 of his game-high 20 points. He also had nine rebounds overall.
Kone was the only player from Mitty to score in double digits while Cameron Korb added nine points, seven of which came from the free throw line.
Serra made eight of its 10 fourth quarter free throw attempts.
Jimmy Wohrer led the Padres with 13 points while Jake Killingsworth added 11 points and seven rebounds and Trevor Brown chipped in with eight points.
“Mitty is the big dog, they’re winning (the WCAL) every year. To come into their place and steal a win from them feels good,” said Wohrer, a senior. “We’re just doing what we work on in practice and executing. Getting out in the lanes and denying, pressuring up on their guards and not giving (Kone) any easy shots.”
All seven of Kone’s field goals were inside the paint and with so much attention paid to him Serra also made sure to not give any clear looks to Mitty’s perimeter players. The Monarchs were only able to connect on two 3-pointers.
“We kept moving forward,” said Killingsworth about Serra losing its 13-point lead and holding on to win. “Every (win) is really good in this league so we just have to look at each game as it’s own and go from there.”
Serra will host Bellarmine Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in San Mateo.
Mitty — which layed again without star guard Sebastian Much because of a hip pointer — is at Riordan at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. p.m.
Kennedy said Much will be out for at least two weeks before getting re-evaluated.
“We are going to have ups and downs in the season, said Kone. “We are not in panic mode quite yet. If you look at the games we are losing by possessions — one or two points — and there’s no stat that shows that. You show wins and losses. Our guys are being very stoic. I still feel we can play with anybody.”
Archbishop Riordan 63, Bellarmine 59
Sacred Heart Cathedral 63, Valley Christian 40
St. Francis 29, St. Ignatius 25
