MONARCHS SLIP PAST LIONS: The @jserrahoops Boys Basketball team saw a fantastic season come to an end on Thursday, as the Mater Dei Monarchs edged the Lions 64-60 in a Southern Regional second round game of the CIF State Championships at JSerra Catholic High School.
The two Trinity League rivals squared off for the third time this season and it was tight contest throughout.
Mater Dei opened the game on a 14-8 run over the first of the opening quarter, but the Lions closed the period on a 9-3 burst to take a two-point lead into the second quarter.
Sophomore Micah Cunningham provided a spark off the bench for the Lions in the second quarter, scoring seven points, but the Monarchs carved out a 35-32 lead at halftime.
Mater Dei stretched the lead to six points early in the third quarter, but the Lions battled back and narrowed the deficit to 47-46 entering the final period.
Senior Jaden Bailes scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, putting the Lions ahead on three separate occasions, including two free throws with left to give JSerra a 55-54 lead.
After the Monarchs recaptured the advantage on a three-pointer, Bailes knocked down two free throws with 46.6 seconds left to tie the game at 57-57.
But the Monarchs answered with a go-ahead three-pointer with 23.6 second remaining and knocked down four free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Bailes finished with a team-high 25 points.
Junior Godschoice Eboigbodin added nine points and collected a team-best 11 rebounds.
Cunningham finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
Junior Davis Dubost scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds.
#lionnation #jserraboysbasketball #jserraathletics
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