SAINTS EDGE LIONS IN TITLE GAME: The @jserrahoops Boys Basketball team and the Crean Lutheran Saints engaged in an intense battle for the CIF-SS Division 1 title, with the Saints pulling out a 59-52 victory over the Lions at the Toyota Arena in Ontario.
The Lions trailed by two after the first quarter, but Crean Lutheran surged to a 13-point lead with 3:04 remaining in the first half.
JSerra answered by holding the Saints without a basket for the remainder of the half, closing on a 10-0 run that pulled the Lions to within 26-23 at halftime.
Junior Earl Bryson sparked the Lions in third quarter, scoring eight points, which ended with the Lions trailing 43-37.
Bryson continued his big second half, converting an acrobatic lay-up with just over four minutes remaining to draw the Lions to within two points.
JSerra surged into a 50-49 lead with just over two minutes remaining on a clutch corner three-pointer by senior Hunter Frates.
The game was tied 52-52 with 1:04 remaining, but the Saints scored the final seven points of the game to seal the win and deny the Lions their second CIF-SS title in school history.
Bryson finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Senior Jaden Bailes added 12 points and four assists.
Junior Godschoice Eboigbodin grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.
JSerra is now 23-13 on the season and will learn its fate for the CIF State Championships on Sunday.
#lionnation #jserraboysbasketball #jserraathletics
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