ATHERTON — Last shot wins.
That seemed to be the only way this ultra-competitive battle between two teams with virtually the same name could have possibly come to a conclusion.
And what a shot it was.
TJ O’Brien’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Sacred Heart Prep a 61-59 victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral in a Central Coast Section Open Division boys basketball game Monday,
SHC had just taken a 59-58 lead with 11 seconds left on a pull-up bucket in the lane by Jerry Mixon Jr.
SHP inbounded the ball and point guard JP Kerrigan brought it upcourt in a hurry and initiated a rapid-fire ball movement series, right to left, around the circumference of the perimeter. Kerrigan passed to Erick Osterloh, who relayed it to LJ Quattlebaum, who sent it on to O’Brien, who knocked down the game-winner, dead center.
“I knew it was going in as soon as I put it up,” O’Brien said.
@tj_obrien21’s corner 3 at the buzzer gives the Gators a 61-59 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral in Game 2 of the @CIFCCS Pool B Open Division Tournament on Monday night.
O’Brien finished the night with 15 points, while @KerriganJp added 16 and @sam_norris17 had 13. pic.twitter.com/pgx2lSehuS
— Sacred Heart Prep Athletics (@SHPAthletics) February 21, 2023
The biggest lead in the game was SHC’s 31-26 advantage at halftime. But then the Irish only managed six points in the third quarter with SHP taking a 40-37 lead.
SHP coach Tony Martinelli credited a suggestion from assistant coach Dave Low for the defensive turnaround in the quarter.
“Dave Low, who I’ve learned so much about defense from, said we’re not getting offensive rebounds, so send three guys back on defense instead of two,” Martinelli said.,
SHC tied it 40-40 at the start of the fourth quarter on a basket and a free throw by Michael Manfreda, who led all scorers with 17 points.
The game was tied at 43-43, 45-45, and a final time at 53-53 after a basket by SHP post player Sam Norris against a double team.
Mixon gave SHC the lead on a floater in the lane before Kerrigan’s 3-pointer put SHP back on top. The lead changed hands again on a pair of free throws by RL Miller with 33 seconds left and then again on two foul shots by Quattlebaum to set up the thrilling finish.
“We played the game the way we wanted to,” SHC coach Caesar Smith said. “The kid at the end hit a great shot.”
Kerrigan had 16 points, making four 3-pointers, to pace the Gators. O’Brien scored 15 and Norris had 13, all in the second half. Miller scored 12 and Fedrick Pernell 11 for SHC.
How close was this game? Both teams finished with 21 field goals. SHP was 11 of 14 at the foul line, SHC 10 of 14. SHP had eight 3-pointers, SHC seven.
No. 3 seed SHP (19-6) is 2-0 in Pool B play and can advance to Friday’s Open Division championship game with a win at No. 2 Archbishop Riordan on Wednesday
“We’ve got to play almost a perfect game,” Martinelli said. “We can’t turn it over, can’t give up a lot of offensive rebounds, can’t let them set up in the paint. If we allow those things to happen they will overwhelm us.”
Despite the loss on Monday, No. 7 seed SHC’s hopes of reaching the Open Division final are still alive.
SHC (14-12) will play at Menlo-Atherton on Wednesday. In the event of a Riordan win over SHP and a Fightin’ Irish win over M-A, a three-way tie would result in Pool B with SHC winning the tie-breaker.
Source: www.mercurynews.com