The JSerra Boys Basketball team showed its strength against some of the best teams in the county over winter break by winning the prestigious National Division championship at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.

JSerra tipped off its’ run to the championship with a 70-49 victory over Eastside Catholic High School of Washington in the first round.

Seniors B.J. Davis-Ray and Dominic Bolton each scored 12 of the team-high 17 points in the second half to pace the Lions, while sophomore Earl Bryson scored nine points and dished out a team-best 10 assists (with no turnovers).

The Lions faced a stiff battle in their next game against Montgomery High of San Diego, but held off the Aztecs in a 61-57 victory.

Senior Jarne Eyenga powered the triumph with a team-high 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Davis-Ray added 19 points and nine rebounds.

Junior Brannon Martinsen, playing in his first game of the season, recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

JSerra’s offense shined in a 91-77 semifinals victory over Carlsbad, as the Lions produced a season-high in points.

That effort was fueled by Martinsen, who scored 18 of his team-high 27 points in the second half.

Eyenga recorded his second double-double of the tournament with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Davis-Ray added 17 points.

JSerra went head-to-head with undefeated Archbishop Riordan High School of San Francisco in a tightly contested struggle in the National Division title game.

The Lions forged an early 14-point lead in the second quarter, but the Crusaders rallied back and took a one-point lead late in the third quarter.

JSerra responded and pushed the advantage back up to nine points with 3:44 remaining, but the Crusaders battled back and closed the deficit to three points with 10.9 seconds remaining.

But sophomore Earl Bryson came through with a big steal and lay-up for the final margin of victory and the tournament championship for the Lions.

Bryson and Davis-Ray finished with a team-high 11 points.

Davis-Ray was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Martinsen finished with nine points and team-best 13 rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team.

JSerra has now won the National Division title at the renowned showcase tournament two times in the last five years.