Archbishop Riordan's fourth trip to a regional title game didn't go the way any of the Crusaders imagined it.
Riordan had won three previous Northern California Regional championship games, but on Saturday at American Canyon High School ran into a buzz saw called Cardinal Newman and fell 73-66 to the Cardinals in the Division IV championship game.
By the final minute of the game the Cardinal starters were on the sideline, hugging coach Tom Bonfigli who was en route to winning his 656th game in 31 years as the Cardinal Newman coach. It was a tough one to swallow for the Crusaders of the mighty West Catholic Athletic League.
Despite the defeat, Riordan was upbeat and enthusiastic about the future.
"I think it was a pretty successful season because last year we didn't get to this point," Riordan guard Geru Mabrey said. "We're disappointed that we didn't get to state, but I'm grateful that I got to play with my all of my brothers."
The setback capped a rollercoaster season for Riordan, which added numerous transfers to the roster late and started 1-5 in the WCAL before making its post-season run.
Riordan coach Rich Buckner didn't underestimate the Cardinals at all.
"Cardinal Newman is an excellent team," Buckner said. "They didn't have that sterling record for nothing. They executed and they have a solid inside-outside tandem in Kenny Love and Corey Hammel and they made it work today. Hats off to them."
Cardinal Newman (32-3) took control early, going up 19-5 by the end of the first quarter as Love's 30-foot, buzzer beater hit all net.
Riordan (20-12) sputtered against the Cardinals who breezed through the North Bay League with a 14-0 record. The Crusaders made just 7 of 21 first-half shots and trailed 30-20 at the break.
"I would pin it on excitement more than nerves," Buckner said. "The guys were really, really ready to play and I don't think they were intimidated by the environment at all. We played Mitty four times, Serra twice in those hostile gyms of the WCAL and it prepares you for this. I think we were more amped up rather than nervous."
Riordan, down by 17 at one point in the second quarter, finally pulled to within four early in the fourth quarter before the Cardinals zipped away again, led by Kyle King who scored nine of his 11 points in the final eight minutes.
"(The Cardinals) had an answer every time," Buckner said. "They made 12 out of 15 shots in the second half. We traded baskets with them and when you're down by seven or eight points, you can't do that."
Love finished with 26 points for the Cardinals, Hammel had 20 and Tim McCullough and King 11 apiece. Hammel also took 12 rebounds.
The Cardinals made 23 of 35 shots from the field (66 percent).
Cardinal Newman anticipated playing Riordan in the finals and was ready.
"I started scouting them in early January," Bonfigli said. "We had about 30 films on them, so we started working on their stuff early."
Added Hammel: "We knew it was going to come down to us locking down the perimeter and rebounding."
Riordan made just six of 21 from 3-point range (28 percent) and was out-rebounded 33-27.
Mabrey led Riordan with 18 points, Jiday Ugbaja had 12 and Bobby Arenas and Zach Masoli 11 and nine, respectively.
Next season Riordan will return key players Arenas, Jiday and Chiefy Ugbaja, Frankie Ferrari and Masoli.
"Our team is junior-laden and I think this will put a fire in their belly to be better for next year," Buckner said.
Cardinal Newman will now meet Pacific Hills of West Hollywood for the state title at noon Saturday at Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena.
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com.
