Riordan wasn’t nervous about stopping the Crusaders’ Andrej Stojakovic on Monday evening.
The Jesuit star, son of Stanford and former Sacramento Kings star Peja Stojakovic, missed his ninth straight recreation with an ankle harm.
Nevertheless, they nonetheless needed to cope with Cole Epperson.
Epperson, a 6-foot-7 junior, knocked down 5 3-pointers and paced No. 25 De La Salle Martin Luther King Jr. He scored a game-high 33 factors within the fourth quarter because the Marauders beat the Crusaders 63-52 within the Traditional. 1 / 4.
“He hit the primary one, so I feel he acquired comfy and let it fly,” Riordan coach Joey Curtin mentioned of Epperson. “Clearly, he is succesful. He fired up and had an awesome recreation.”
Riordan (11-3) tied it at halftime, trailed the Sacramento powerhouse by only one level after the third quarter and had an opportunity to take the lead early within the fourth, however freshman Andrew Hillman’s layup bid fell broad. well-known arduous De La Salle rims. Ahjani Lewis hit a three-point play on the different finish, beginning a 16-1 Marauders run that put the sport out of attain, earlier than Epperson dunked and sank his ultimate two 3-pointers.
For the primary time since then King-Njhsanni Wilhite instantly went to Pink Rock Academy, the Crusaders appeared like a staff and not using a level guard. Riordan turned the ball over 17 instances.
Moreover, the Crusaders made simply 9 of 19 free throws and missed open seems, taking pictures 20-for-50 (40%) from the sector.
A staff with tons of expertise however minimal depth noticed their weaknesses additional exploited when ahead Nathan Tshamala, a cousin of Warriors ahead Jonathan Kuminga, took an elbow to the face lower than two and a half minutes into the sport. He didn’t return and went to get dental remedy after the sport.
“We acquired skinny fairly rapidly,” Curtin mentioned. “Cristian (Clever) and Jasir (Rencher) then fouled early.”
Rancher picked up two fouls within the first 5 minutes, whereas Clever, Hilman and Zachary Jones every picked up their second foul late within the second quarter.
Rencher, who had a team-high 11 factors and a game-high 12 rebounds, capped a 7-0 run with a driving layup to offer the Crusaders a 38-30 lead with lower than three minutes left within the quarter, however the Marauders responded with a 12-2 run of their very own. Epperson scored six throughout that stretch, Lewis hit a 3-pointer and Kevin Haupt hit a 3-pointer to tie the sport at 40. Epperson’s basket, assisted by Reid Jones, gave Jesuit (14-4) its first lead of the second half.
Epperson scored Jesuit’s first 11 factors, and he additionally grabbed a team-high 7 rebounds. Lewis 16, Haupt, who transferred from close by Oakmont Public Facultyscored seven of his 9 targets within the second half.
Hilman completed with 10 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Kaia Berridge and Zachary Jones each added 9. Jones scored seven straight for Riordan within the second quarter to assist the Crusaders take a 26-20 lead, however Lewis’ offensive rebound and 3-pointer tied the rating at 28.
Achilles Woodson completed with seven factors and Clever had six factors and eight rebounds.
It will not be lengthy earlier than the Crusaders lick their wounds. They host Mitty (12-2, 4-0 West Catholic Athletic League) on Tuesday evening. The Monarchs are led by Princeton’s Derek Sangster.
