Heading into their opening round contest the St. Anthony boys’ basketball team knew the game would come down to execution as they faced a tough Leuzinger squad in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.
On Wednesday night a third-quarter sprint by the Olympians was enough to put the game out of reach for the Saints as they lost 79-68 in Jack Errion Gym.
“They made a lot of shots – a lot of shots,” St. Anthony coach Alan Mitchell said. “It’s hard to come back from that. They earned it, and they were ready to play.”
Leuzinger had their shot working early as their gauntlet of guards got them into a rhythm as Darrell Bagsby and Jace Jones knocked down a couple threes as the visitors jumped out to a 10-4 lead.
With an early injury that sent St. Anthony junior Jamil House to the sidelines to be tended by a trainer – sophomore Elijah Ricks provided a huge lift off the bench scoring nine points to keep the Saints in the game. It was big minutes for Ricks who was getting back into action after being out injured since December.
Ricks’ play was just what St. Anthony needed as House was able to return near the end of the first period scoring four points to cut Leuzinger’s lead to 20-17. However, just like he started the game, Jones knocked down another three to beat the buzzer as the Olympians lead was six after the first period.
The two teams traded baskets throughout the second period as House and Jayden White combined for 11 points for the Saints as they started to chip away at Leuzinger’s lead. White’s last basket of the period cut the Saints’ deficit to two points heading into halftime.
In the third quarter it was an all-out blitz by the Olympians as Aiden McIntyre, Jones and Braylin Spencer combined for 21 points as Leuzinger took a commanding 57-41 lead after the third.
“That’s been our staple the whole year – shooting,” Leuzinger coach Arturo Jones said of his team’s shooting in the third. “At some point in the preseason, we were only playing with three or four of those guys. Luckily, I got my point guard back when league started, so he was an addition to that group.”
Leuzinger was firing on all cylinders in third as the defense held the Saints to only three field goals. McIntyre had a team-high 18 points for the Olympians while Dylan Curry had 15, Koby London 13, and Bagsby and Jones 12 each.
House and the Saints didn’t let the deficit stop them from competing in the final quarter as the lead blossomed to 21 points. The junior scored a game-high 22 for St. Anthony and Trystan Burtado and Tylan Kinsey each had eight to go with two 3-pointers.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted,” House said. “Our scouting report was great by coaches. But we just weren’t able to execute it.”
Leuzinger advances to the second round to take on El Dorado, while St. Anthony’s season comes to an end.
“We just didn’t capitalize on the opportunity,” Mitchell said. But we’re returning 11 guys. We’ll accept the things we need to correct, and correct them.”
