ANAHEIM – When it comes to leading by example, Nick Anderson refuses to take time off.
Canyon’s senior point guard was the epitome of an iron man this year, playing through the flu for a two-week span and still getting his team into the playoffs.
The Comanches are still looking to Anderson to lead. He had 15 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds and 7 steals to push Canyon past Ayala of Chino Hills, 60-51, on Friday night in a CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal at Canyon High.
“He’s been good all year. We’ve asked him to play 32 minutes every game,” Comanches coach Nate Harrison said of Anderson. “He produces. He really showed up, especially defensively. He was a stud.”
It’s the kind of effort the Comanches (21-9) had come to expect from Anderson, who was recently selected as a McDonald’s All-American nominee.
The Comanches will host Tesoro on Tuesday in the semifinals. The Titans beat top-seeded Thousand Oaks, 67-62, Friday.
Canyon appeared to be in trouble after falling behind, 14-6, to the Bulldogs (23-5). Anderson put a stop to Ayala’s hot start, collecting three steals in the second quarter to help fuel a 17-4 Canyon run the rest of the half.
In the second half, the Comanches’ 3-pointers started to fall, and Anderson found the open man in the corners. Donald Schaal, Chandler Dignam, Jake Emeterio and Anderson each hit threes to help Canyon build a 41-32 edge at the end of the third quarter.
John Edgar and Austen Awosika hit threes to rally Ayala. Canyon’s lead was cut to 44-42 with 4:12 left, but when needed, Kaleb Phillips locked down Ayala’s guards defensively. Emeterio hit two 3-pointers and Anderson made four free throws to seal it.
