Centennial boys basketball team holds off Sierra Canyon in Open Division showdown
CORONA — Centennial boys basketball coach Josh Giles was looking for the right moment to put starting point guard Mike Price back into the game.
The Huskies were rolling with Robert “B.J.” Taylor on the floor, however, so Giles decided not to make any changes to his lineup down the stretch.
Centennial’s Mike Price, (#2), looks to shot the basketball against Sierra Canyon during the first half in Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game, at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Mike Price, (#2), shots the basketball over Sierra Canyon’s Osiris Nalls, (#10), during the first half in Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game, at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Aaron Mcbride, (#21), drives to the basket and shoot between two Sierra Canyon defenders during the first half of Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game, at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Jared Mccain, (#24), shoots a jump shot against Sierra Canyon’ during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Sierra Canyon’s Dylan Metoyer, (#23) shot the ball between Centennial’s Devin Williams, (#22), Mike Price, (#2), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Hardaway, (#24), shoots a three-pointer over Centennial’s Eric Freeny, (#13), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Sierra Canyon’s Osiris Nalls, (#10), shoots a jump shot over Centennial’s Mike Price, (#2), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Mike Price, (#2), has the ball striped away by Sierra Canyon’s Dylan Metoyer, (#23), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Eric Freeny, (#13), shoots the ball and is fouled by Sierra Canyon’s Jimmy Oladokun,(#34), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Aaron Mcbride, (#21), drives to the basket and shoot over Sierra Canyon Majok Chuol, (#13) during the first half of Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game, at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Aaron Mcbride, (#21), dives for a loose ball against Sierra Canyon’s Noah Williams, (#11), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Hardaway, (#24) reacts after making a three-point shot next to teammate Bronny James (#0), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Eric Freeny, (#13), shoots a jump shot over Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Hardaway, (#24), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James, (#0), reaches in to strip the ball away from Centennial’s Devin Williams, (#22), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Hardaway, (#24), shoots a three-pointer over Centennial’s Eric Freeny, (#13), during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Centennial’s Jared Mccain, (#24), shoots a jump shot against Sierra Canyon’ during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game at Centennial High School in Corona, February 10, 2023. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
And Taylor rewarded his coach’s faith in him by sinking a momentum-changing 3-pointer to give the Huskies the lead with 2:28 left on the clock. Taylor’s fourth-quarter effort at both ends helped the Huskies edge Sierra Canyon 68-63 in CIF Southern Section Open Division pool-play game Friday evening.
“B.J. has had two knee surgeries since he’s been here and has had to overcome a lot,” Giles said. “He’s a great kid who always puts in a tremendous effort when he gets the opportunity to play. For him to step up in a big game like this one tonight, I was extremely excited to see him come through.
“And I have to give a lot of credit to Mike. He was a great teammate who understood the situation and said we should stick with what we had out there.”
Centennial (26-3) held a double-digit lead at halftime, but Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Hardaway scored 10 points in the third quarter to help the Trailblazers get back in the game. Sierra Canyon (20-8) took a brief lead and only trailed 45-44 heading to the final quarter despite Hardaway and Bronny James both picking up their fourth fouls in the third period.
Hardaway sank a 28-footer to tie the score at 53 and drained another shot from behind the arc to give Sierra Canyon a 56-55 lead with 2:47 to play.
On the ensuing possession, Aaron McBride drove to the basket and was double-teamed. McBride kicked the ball to Taylor, who nailed a 3 in the corner.
“I was just looking to help my team win,” said Taylor, a senior guard. “When I saw my defender help, I knew I had to be ready to take a shot.”
Centennial, the two-time defending champion of the Open Division, led 62-58 with about a minute to play, but James sank a 3-pointer in the corner to bring Sierra Canyon back within a point. James nearly tied the game with 17 seconds left, but his 3-pointer was just off target.
Jared McCain sank four free throws and Taylor added two more from the stripe in the closing seconds to seal the nail-biting victory for the Huskies.
“We’re trying to do something nobody else has done,” Giles said, referring to his team’s quest to become the first team to win three straight Open Division titles. “We know the road is not going to be easy… Credit to Sierra Canyon. They played great and really made us work hard for this one.”
Taylor was not the only unsung hero for Centennial on Friday evening, as Eric Freeny recorded a double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“I think Freeny is the best player in the state that many people haven’t heard of,” Giles said of the junior guard. “He has had monster games for us in some big games. He always draws a tough defensive assignment and he plays bigger than he is. Eric always works his butt off.”
Sierra Canyon got off to a strong start, as James banked in a 3-pointer and then scored on a layup to help the Trailblazers grab a 14-6 lead.
Freeny drained a 3-pointer to kickstart Centennial’s offense, and the Huskies outscored Sierra Canyon 30-10 the remainder of the first half.
“We tightened things up on defense, and that helped get things going on offense,” Freeny said. “We just had to relax and start playing our game.”
McCain finished with a game-high 22 points and also had eight rebounds, while McBride added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies.
Centennial will host Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (21-9) on Tuesday night. Notre Dame knocked off Bishop Montgomery 71-63 in its pool-play opener.
Hardaway scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half to lead the way for Sierra Canyon. James finished the night with 16 points, and Jimmy Oladokun had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Trailblazers. Sierra Canyon travels to Bishop Montgomery on Tuesday.
