The fifth game at the MLK Day Showdown at Providence features a quality matchup between the JW North Huskies of Riverside and the Palisades Dolphins.
JW North enters with a 16-3 record while Palisades holds a 14-6 mark coming into today.
Both teams play tough defense, forcing the opposition to work for every basket. Open looks were hard to come by in the first quarter with Palisades holding a slim 10-9 lead until Ohio State football commit Marcus Baugh threw down a vicious dunk to give JW North an 11-10 advantage after a quarter.
In the second, JW North was able to extend the lead to 34-27 after a sweet mid-ranger jumper from Dikymbe Martin to close the half.
The two teams came out in the second half hitting shots but the Huskies were able to maintain their advantage and led 53-47 heading to the final quarter.
JW North started strong, forcing turnovers and getting some easy fast break buckets to build a 62-47 lead with 5:35 to play.
Palisades junior Louis Kurihawa hit five three-pointers
to keep the Dolphins in the game but JW North eventually proved too strong.
JW North received strong performances from Marcus Baugh, Dikymbe Martin and Deshon Taylor.
After not scoring in the first quarter, Deshon Taylor scored 32 points to take home CLA and Further Player of the Game honors.
Game 6: JSerra Clips Cantwell 60-59 in Overtime
Game six at the MLK Day Showdown pit the Cantwell-Sacred Heart Cardinals against the JSerra Catholic Lions.
JSerra came into the game with an 11-6 record while Cantwell held a 13-6 mark.
Cantwell jumped out to a 5-0 lead but Dylan Osetkowskin got the Lions on the board with a put back. JSerra went up 6-5 before Emiliano Mejia knocked down a three to regain the lead for Cantwell.
It was a defensive struggle for the remainder of the half as both teams played intense physical defense. With two minutes left in the half, JSerra held a slim 18-16 advantage.
Cantwell star Jose Estrada tied the game at 18 and Balsa Dragovic gave the Cardinals the lead with a big three pointer. JSerra added a final bucket to close the gap 21-20 at halftime.
JSerra came out strong in the third thanks to their pressure defense which led to some easy fast break points and a 32-24 advantage with four minutes left in the quarter.
Jose Estrada hit a difficult fade away jumper to pull the Cardinals within 32-29 late in the third. Heading to the fourth, JSerra held a 36-31 lead over Cantwell.
JSerra's Johnnie Vassar knocked down a three to start the final quarter. Trailing 41-33, Mejia answered with a three for Cantwell to cut the deficit to 41-36 with six minutes left in the game.
Osetkowski responded with a medium range jumper to give the Lions a 43-36 advantage.
Mejia hit his sixth three-pointer but JSerra sophomore Rex Pflueger fired back with one of his own to maintain a seven point lead for the Lions.
Trailing 48-44 with two minutes to go, Cantwell's Joey Covarrubias drove the lane for a tough lay up to cut the deficit to 48-46. Estrada hit two clutch free throws to tie the game. After a defensive stop, Cantwell had the ball with 34 seconds left.
Estrada hit a go-ahead jumper but with just seconds left, JSerra's Nick Pallas got an offensive board and put back to equalize and send the game into overtime.
50-50 heading into the extra session and neither team would back down. Mejia hit another three to give Cantwell a 55-52 lead but Jamal Aytes of JSerra hit a short jumper to cut it to 55-54.
After another bucket by Estrada, Aytes scored a bucket and one to tie the game at 57.
Dragovic hit two clutch free throws with 16 seconds left to give Cantwell a 59-57 lead but Aytes answered again with another bucket plus the foul. After converting the go-ahead free throw to give JSerra a 60-59 lead with just seconds remaining, JSerra held on to secure the hard fought victory.
For his late game heroics, Jamal Aytes was named CLA and Further Player of the Game.
