SANTA CLARA — RL Miller picked a fine time to have a career game.
Miller, better known as a standout wide receiver/defensive back in football headed to Fresno State, displayed his hoops aptitude Friday, scoring a career-high 24 points to lead Sacred Heart Cathedral to a 64-59 victory over Serra in the Central Coast Section Open Division championship game at Santa Clara University,
“One of the best athletes I’ve seen at the high school level,” SHC coach Caesar Smith said. “He’s a great teammate. He plays hard. Pull out a chess board, he tries to beat you. Play video games, he tries to beat you. He’s a kid I love to be around.”
Sacred Heart Cathedral’s RL Miller(4) puts up #1 after winning the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group).
Serra (17-11) came out strong at the start of the third quarter with an 8-2 burst to erase SHC’s 28-25 halftime lead. That’s when Miller really got it going, scoring four consecutive baskets on a fastbreak layup and a fastbreak dunk, on a lob and on an offensive rebound. That last basket of his ignited a 19-6 run as SHC opened an 11-point lead at 55-44.
His 24 points came on 10 of 15 shooting and he also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
Three other players scored in double figures for the Fightin’ Irish: Michael Manfreda scored 14, Jerry Mixon Jr. (another Division I football recruit headed to Oregon) had 12 and Fedrick Pernell scored 10.
Serra’s Ryan Pettis(2) covers his head after losing the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group).
Serra, which finished the West Catholic Athletic League season at 7-7, in a three-way tie for third place with SHC and St. Ignatius, was coming off a great shooting performance in an upset win over No. 1 seed Mitty. The shots weren’t dropping for the Padres on this occasion as they went 6 of 22 from 3-point range.
“We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket,” Serra coach Chuck Rapp said. “We were coming off a real strong shooting night and that always makes me nervous.”
Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Zemaury Erfe(3) shoots a layup in the 3rd quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group).
The Padres also had a tough matchup with SHC’s athleticism.
“They’re stronger and faster than us in a lot of spots,” Rapp said. “Against a team that’s stronger and faster we’ve got to make shots. But we got to Santa Clara University. That was one of our goals at the start of the year. We just came up a little short.”
Serra coach Chuck Rapp greeting Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Caeser Smith after the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group).
Aidan Carleson led Serra with 18 points. Seamus Gilmartin played an outstanding game down low, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Like Serra, Sacred Heart Cathedral (16-12) came together late in the season, winning seven of its last nine games and earning a No. 7 seed in the Open Division playoffs. Beating No. 2 Riordan in an Open Division opener, a team it had lost to twice in the regular season, was a big confidence boost.
“It not only gave us confidence that we could pretty much beat anybody, but it brought the team together to believe in each other,” Smith said.
Now both teams will look ahead to the NorCal playoffs. Seedings and matchups will come out on Sunday.
“We’re going to try to get that state title,” Miller said.
Serra’s Ryan Pettis(2) dribbles the ball in the 1st quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Marcel Elicagaray(3) struggles to shoot the ball in the 2nd quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Chuck Ramp coaches his team in the 2nd quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Aidan Carleson(21) drives the ball past Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Jerry Mixon(21) in the 1st quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral’s RL Miller(4) fights for the ball in the 4th quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Ryan Pettis(2) dunks the ball in the 4th quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Andrew Mcdowell(1) dives for the ball in the 4th quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Ryan Pettis(2) in disappointment after a play in the 4th quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Jerry Mixon(21) looks to pass the ball in the 3rd quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Michael Manfreda(15) reacts after scoring a 3-point shot in the 3rd quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra fans shout while a free throw in the 4th quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Marcel Elicagaray(3) dribbles the ball in the 4th quarter of the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra’s Aidan Carleson(21) is picked up by his teammates after losing the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral players celebrate after winning the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra coach Chuck Rapp in disappointment after losing the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Serra coach Chuck Rapp in disappointment after the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral players celebrating their win after the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group). Sacred Heart Cathedral Captains receive their trophy after winning the CCS Boys Open Division basketball game between Serra and Sacred Heart Cathedral at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 24, 2023 (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group).
