MORAGA - Senior David Ahazie has watched a young team carry the load at times this season for Campolindo. On Friday night, in the North Coast Section Division 3 quarterfinals against visiting Piner, Ahazie led the Cougars from the start, propelling them into the semifinals with a 70-60 victory.
Ahazie scored nine of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter, as Campolindo bolted to a nine-point lead after one quarter, 20-11. Piner stayed in the game thanks to a trio of first-quarter three-pointers from senior Jacob Monday, and then got a balanced effort the rest of the game, whittling the lead to eight points at halftime, 31-23.
Campolindo pushed the lead back to 10 points by the end of the third quarter, as Ahazie and Carter Mahaney both had big baskets in the period, and Piner also began to send the Cougars to the line, where they hit five free throws during the third quarter. Campolindo was even more impressive from the line in the fourth quarter, especially freshman Aidan Mahaney, who hit eight shots from the charity stripe down the stretch to finish with 20 points. Older brother Carter finished with 13 points.
Piner did not have any players in double figures, but received nine points each from seniors Monday and Chris Gutierrez, each playing their final high school game. Fellow seniors Jorge San Roman and Scott Erickson had eight points each, as did junior Adonis Gutierrez.
Campolindo advances to host St. Patrick-St. Vincent, who beat Miramonte, 57-45, in the opposite quarterfinal. The two teams met earlier this year at the MLK Classic, with St. Pat's edging the Cougars, 53-51.
