Canyon rallies late, falls short
The Canyon boys basketball team trailed Inglewood by 16 points early in the third quarter of Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 2AA second round game.
With less than two minutes to go in the game, the Comanches had a chance to steal the victory, with the game tied.
However, down the stretch, Inglewood (18-10) proved to be too strong, scoring the final 10 points to escape with a 72-62 road victory over Canyon (21-8).
Canyon tied the game at 62-62 a layup by Anthony Ballestero in the fourth quarter.
The next time down the floor, Kristopher Randall nailed a baseline jumper and on Inglewood's next possession, he knocked home a 3-point field goal for a 67-62 lead.
Canyon was never able to regroup.
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"I thought we took some bad shots," Canyon coach Nate Harrison said. "Some of those shots are why we're back in the game, but we played a little too fast.
"We tied the game and we took a couple of shot that were ill-advised shots. We just didn't have it. They (Inglewood) shot well, credit to them."
The Sentinels will visit Cajon of San Bernardino in the quarterfinals Friday. Cajon defeated Cypress 51-48 in overtime.
Inglewood took a 16-point lead on a basket by Charles Lockwood early in the third quarter. Anthony Bates' basket near the end of the quarter cut the deficit to score to 55-49 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Bates' 3-pointer got Canyon to within 59-58. Inglewood went up 62-58, before Canyon scored four consecutive, to tie the game.
"They did a good job of fighting back," Inglewood coach Pat Roy said. "That No. 12 (JoJo Ballestero) is relentless and it carried over to some of their other guys.
"We did a good job of hitting some key shots late."
JoJo led Canyon with 22 points. Nicholas Smiley led Inglewood with 19 points and 16 assists. Randall added 18.
Inglewood led by four at the end of the first quarter. To start the second, the Sentinels outscored the Comanches 12-2 to take a 35-21 lead.
"We lost 13 kids (from last year) and this was supposed to be a rebuilding year and to win 21 games in a rebuilding year, I say is pretty good," Harrison said.
Also in 2AA:
Tesoro 62, Canyon of Canyon Country 56: Jaylen Bruce led all Titans (16-12) with 17 points in the home victory.
Jed Abello added 13 and Tanner Lancona and Nick Pallas both added 11 apiece. Lancona had 14 rebounds and and Pallas had 12.
Tesoro will be on the road in the quarterfinals against Royal of Simi Valley. Royal defeated Villa Park, 59-47 in a second round game.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
