BERKELEY, CA -- The University-San Francisco faithful gathered in the upper reaches of Cal's Haas Pavilion in their red T-shirts with red and white pom pons, ready to root on their heroes.
But Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth made it difficult, racing to a 14-point lead before the Red Devils finally sank a 3-pointer in an eventual 80-55 Trailblazer victory. The SC victory came in the state Division V title game, giving the Trailblazers their first state crown.
Oh, every once in a while University would score a flurry of points and offer a mirage of hope for its fans, but every time it proved to be an illusion like an imaginary water park popping up in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
"In retrospect we got down (14-0) and we had 11 turnovers at halftime and missed six or seven layups and were only down 13 at half," University coach Randy Bessolo said. "We were grateful at that point. To get a good (result) you normally need a good start, but I don't think that was the difference. They were a great team."
There was controversy over Sierra Canyon's placement in Division V as opposed to the Open. The Trailblazers (26-4) were ranked No. 1 in Southern California at one point and lost to nationally ranked Oak Hill of Virginia by just four points. Only a loss to Etiwanda-Rancho Cucamonga in the Southern Section quarterfinals tumbled Sierra Canyon into DV.
The Trailblazers made the best of their lower placement.
"After we lost to Etiwands they did not reward us for our (difficult) schedule," Sierra Canyon coach Ty Nichols said. "Etiwanda was a great team and after that game our A.D. asked that we be in the Open Division, but they decided we didn't win enough and put us in Division V. All we could do was play who they put in front of us and try to win the state title."
Sierra Canyon did that with relative ease. Brandon Lew made a last-second 3-pointer to pull University (28-8) to within 36-23 at halftime, but then Sierra Canyon went on a 13-2 tear to open the second half to go ahead 49-25 and University never fully recovered.
"It was a great feeling to accomplish what we set out to do," said Trailblazer six-eight sophomore center Cody Riley who scored 18 points and took a state-title game record 22 rebounds. "But we had to do it together; we couldn't do it individually."
Said Nichols' of Riley's effort: "I'm thrilled with what Cody did. He deserves to have his name in the record book. Our goal at the start of the season was for him to have double-doubles every game and 22 rebounds in one game is a phenomenal accomplishment and the entire team is excited about it."
Backing Riley were sophomore Remy Martin with a game-high 19 points and sophomore Terrance McBride and junior Devearl Ramsey with 13 apiece. Martin also had seven steals.
For University, Lew led the way with 15 points, junior Sean Gillmore had 10, junior Ryan Lipton nine and junior Mattie Mrlik eight.
Gillmore was impressed with the Trailblazers.
"We played a lot of stellar competition during the season including Riordan and St. Francis which had a lot of size and quickness. But this team was by far the best we played all season," he said.
The fact University had to meet such an accomplished team in DV did not faze Bessolo.
"We regularly play Open type team, but this team was on a different level and the fact (SC) is so young is kind of scary," the University coach said. "But all you want to do is test yourself vs. the best and this team we played is as good as it gets in California.
"I look more at what we did to get here which was displaying a lot of teamwork, toughness and caring about and loving each other. Nothing will ever take away our achievement (of winning NorCal) and I couldn't be more proud of these kids."
