Cypress High’s boys basketball team battled to the final seconds, but they were unable to keep pace with a hot shooting Rancho Christian team, as the Centurions (19-11) saw their season come to an end in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. The Eagles (21-9) were able to hold off the Centurions, 94-82, at Cypress High, to advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Ford Championships on Friday.
The Eagles had taken a 17-point lead into the final quarter, but the Centurions would not go quietly. They cut the lead to 75-65 on a three pointer by senior forward Emmanuel Igbekoyi. Senior point guard Ryan Gov had an offensive rebound and score during the run.
Igbekoyi had a layup off a great pass and then at steal and break to cut the lead to 77-69. After a Rancho basket, Gov scored on a driving layup to get it back to 79-71, but that would be as close as the Centurions would get. Gov led the Centurions with 29 points and Igbekoyi finished with 20.
Senior guard Ethan Mai had 14 points, with four three-pointers, and junior guard Brennan DeLa Cruz added 13 points, including 3 three-points buckets. Senior forward Gavin Kroll rounded out the scoring with six points. Junior guard Jeremiah Profit led the Eagles with a game-high 32 points and junior James Wilson added 18 points.
After a fourth place league finish and missing the playoffs last year, the Centurions set their sights on getting back this season. Head Coach Derek Mitchell credited the core returning players for getting the team back on track.
“The guys who came back set the tone early, we had some young guys, we had them come in, and they saw the excitement, and that we can feel it if people play hard, and play together,” Cypress Head Coach Derek Mitchell said.
The Centurions finished third in a competitive Crestview League this season and also added a tournament title when they won the San Diego Holiday Classic in January. Gov won the tournament MVP award at the event. Mitchell said the team’s bond was a big factor in its successes this season.
“You know, they’re friends on the court, and off the court, so that always helps,” Mitchell said. “Just a lot of heart … and you can tell they never give up.”