CCS basketball playoffs: Bellarmine, Los Gatos boys to meet in D-I final

PALO ALTO — No. 1 seed Bellarmine College Prep put on a clinic of halfcourt execution in a 56-40 win over host Palo Alto on Thursday in a Central Coast Section Division I semifinal.

The Bells shot 60% (24 of 40) for the game from the floor.

“We’ve really been emphasizing off-the-ball movement,” Bellarmine coach Alex Sarrett said. “A lot of those back cuts and actions we ran pretty well today.”

Sophomore Brayden Harris led the way with 15 points. He scored seven in quick succession in the first quarter as Bellarmine (12-13) jumped out to an 11-2 lead and was never headed.

Palo Alto's Sean Hogan (20) battles Belarmine's Julian Gospich (2) for a loose ball in the first half of their Boys Central Coast Section semifinal game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) — Palo Alto’s Sean Hogan (20) battles Belarmine’s Julian Gospich (2) for a loose ball in the first half of their Boys Central Coast Section semifinal game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Julian Gospich scored 13 and post player Nick Corbett added 10. Bellarmine led 50-29 after three quarters and Sarrett emptied his bench in the fourth quarter.

Mert Yanar led No. 4 seed Palo Alto (19-7) with 14 points.

Accustomed to a significantly difficult level of competition after going 5-9 in the rugged West Catholic Athletic League, Bellarmine was placed in Division I. Both Sarrett and Palo Alto coach Jeff LaMere said they believe the Bells belonged in the Open Division. They are definitely the elephant in the room in a Division I bracket that otherwise is composed of seven public schools.

In the second semifinal Thursday at Palo Alto, No. 2 Los Gatos (21-5) also never trailed in a 63-56 win over Carlmont.

Los Gatos' Max Houghton (1) and Nolan Koch (11) battle Carlmont's Ben Lefer (24) for a rebound in the second half of their Boys Central Coast Section semifinal game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Los Gatos defeated Carlmont 63-56. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) — Los Gatos’ Max Houghton, left, and Nolan Koch (11) battle Carlmont’s Ben Lefer (24) for a rebound in the second half Thursday. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

The Wildcats were the bigger team inside but also displayed an advantage from the perimeter, making nine 3-pointers to seven for a Carlmont team that hoped to make the first CCS boys basketball championship game appearance in the school’s 68-year history by utilizing its quickness.

“They shot well and we didn’t,” Carlmont coach Ron Ozorio said. “When we had good looks we didn’t knock them down.”

Point guard Nate Wong led No. 3 seed Carlmont (18-8) with 18 points.

Los Gatos' Scotty Brennan (10) goes up for a basket past Carlmont's Lucas Vigil (13) in the first half of their Boys Central Coast Section semifinal game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) — Los Gatos’ Scotty Brennan (10) goes up for a basket past Carlmont’s Lucas Vigil (13) in the first half of their Boys Central Coast Section semifinal game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Los Gatos displayed a balanced attack. Tommy Ankenbrandt led the way with 17 points, Nolan Koch scored 16 and Max Houghton had 11.

“On any given night we feel we’ve got four, five, six or seven guys who can score 15 or 16 points,” Los Gatos coach Nick Ward said. “We’ve had three or four guys score in the 20s this season.”

What do the Wildcats need to do to have a chance to beat Bellarmine in the final?

“Play hard,” Ward said. “There’s no magic wand. We’ll give our best effort and focus on one possession at a time.”