MORAGA — Likely CIF Open Division candidates met in the second of six games at the 22nd MaxPreps/De La Salle MLK Classic, and though they saw a 16-point lead turn into a seven-point deficit, St. John Bosco made one last surge to beat Modesto Christian, 68-65.
Already missing Pacific commit Jonathan Salazar for the year with a torn ACL, the Braves saw Chris James suffer an ankle injury in the second quarter that took him out of the rest of the game. Still, Bosco was able to open up a 33-17 lead and went into halftime up by 10 after Tsotne Tsartsidze scored the final five points of the half for the Crusaders.
After allowing the first four points of the third quarter, though, Modesto Christian (16-5) took off. Dathan Satchell scored 15 of his team-high 20 in the second half, including the first five of a 20-4 run in the third quarter. When UC Davis commit Aaron Murphy scored the final basket of the third quarter on a scoop, it gave MC the lead for the first time all game, 49-47.
Five more points from Satchell started the fourth quarter, and the lead was 60-53 on the last of Tsartsidze’s nine points before a Joshua Adoh pull-up 3-pointer started the decisive run for St. John Bosco (20-5). A Lamaj Lewis and-1 cut the lead to a single point, and after the Crusaders responded with two free throws by Michael Pearson (11 points), the Braves tied it on a 3-pointer by Sebastian Gomez. His free throw to complete a four-point play missed, but a Josh Camper offensive rebound led to an open three for sophomore Jeremiah Paul, who connected to put the Braves back in front. Pearson would respond with a three at the other end, but Camper would connect again with 1:12 left to put Bosco ahead for good.
A Lewis block and a missed three from Pearson would keep the Braves in front. A missed MC layup with 20 seconds left sent Adoh to the line, but he would miss the front end of a 1-and-1 with 9.4 seconds left. He redeemed himself with the game-ending steal, after which Modesto Christian head coach Bryce Fantazia chased the officials down the court, pleading for a timeout that he had been trying to call before the final play.
Adoh led the Braves with 21, Camper had 11, Gomez had 10 and Lewis finished with nine. James scored five before hurting his ankle on a play in the post by Tsartsidze, while Paul scored all of his five in the fourth quarter, stepping up in Lewis’ absence.
Tsartsidze finished with nine and Earv Knox scored 10 for the Crusaders.
