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By: Max Mercy and the Crew

San Diego County Championship Recap – ¡Viva Instituto Mexico!

Aguilas shock #1 seed St. Rose of Lima to win 3rd championship in eight years!

The last time St. Rose of Lima lost a game was at last year’s tournament on Sunday, March 11th. They lost in the semifinals to eventual champion St. Patrick of Carlsbad. Fast forward one year later. The Lancers were undefeated in league, and rolling right along to the championship game in this year’s tournament.

They had the best player of the tourney in Jalen Hands. This was the team that would finally bring long time coach, Mike Arney, his first county championship. Everyone who saw them play, agreed that this was their year. Someone forgot to tell Instituto Mexico.

The Aguila’s (Eagles), won their third county championship, with a shocking 38-36 victory over St. Rose of Lima.

Instituto started off with a three pointer by Hector Camacho. Then their best player got into the act. Josue Lara drained a three pointer to make it 6-0.

The Lancers would score their first points with a bucket by Sebastian Acevedo. Then Sean Panado hit a three pointer to make it 8-5.

The main match up was Lara and Hands guarding each other. Lara played him tight which would get him in early foul trouble with two personals midway through the first half. But, he kept Hands scoreless. Hands scored his first point on a free throw with seven minutes remianing in the half to make it 8-6.

At the 6:40 mark, Lara received his third personal, and was forced to sit out the rest of the half. That left it wide open for Mr. Hands. He dribbled inside and made an NBA move to record his first field goal. Then he came right back and hit a three pointer. The Lancers had their first lead of the game, 11-10.

With Instituto’s seventh team foul, Sebastian Acevedo went to the line for a one and one. When he missed the first shot, Jaylen Hands caught the Aguila’s sleeping. He rebounded the shot and put it back in for two. The score was 13-10.

With 35 seconds remaining in the half, and Lara still on the bench, Hands drained a 30 foot three pointer, that brought the crowd to their feet. The half ended 18-15, in favor of St. Rose.

To start the second half, Josue Lara tied the game with a long three pointer. With nine minutes remaining Lara was whistled for his fourth personal. With his dad coaching the team in place of Eva Porter, he left his son in the game.

Both teams exchanged leads several times. With 23 seconds left, the Aguilas had the lead 34-31.

After a pair of free throws by Jesus Ruiz,the Aguilas now led 36-31. Hands attempted a long 3 pointer that hit the rim but didn’t go down. The Lancers were forced to foul.

With 14 seconds remaining, Lara made two free throws to make it 38-31. Instituto then committed a silly foul, sending Hands to the line. He made both of them. Now it was 38-33.

On the ensuing in bounds play the Aguilas lost the ball, and the Lancers had one more opportunity, with 12 seconds left on the clock. Hands got the ball at the 3 point line and launched a beautiful shot that went in and out. But he was fouled by Lara, who was then forced to sit after fouling out.

Hands made all three free throws. Now it was 38-36, Instituto. With 8 seconds left, St. Rose fouled Jesus Ruiz. He missed both. The Lancers took the rebound down court, but did not get the ball into the hands of Hands. Sean Panado took the last shot and missed. Final score, 38-36. Insituto Mexico were champions for the third time since 2006. It was another heart breaking loss in the finals for the Lancers.

For St. Rose of Lima, Jaylen Hands and Sean Panado would be named to the Elite 8, and Quentin Frazier would be selected to the varsity All-County team. For Insituto Mexico, Josue Lara and Hector Camacho would named to the Elite 8, and Jesus Ruiz would be selected to the varsity All-County team.

Championship Weekend!

Recap of 3/13 Games

There were two varsity semifinal games last night for “The Battle for 3rd Place”. All Hallows defeated Nazareth. In the second game, St. John of the Cross beat St. Michael of Poway. They will face each other on Championship Saturday at 4pm.

Tonight there is one big Varsity game and two huge JV games. At 6:30pm it’s Varsity Consolation semifinal. School of the Madeleine vs St. James Academy. The winner advances to Saturday Championship Night. At 7:15pm it’s the JV semis for “Battle for 3rd Place”. St.Therese vs St. Patrick Carlsbad. Followed by  Our Lady of Grace and St. Didacus at 8pm The winners advance to Friday Championship Night.

Championship Saturday will begin at 3pm with the Varsity Consolation Championship, followed by “The Battle for 3rd Place”. Then the SD County Championship at 5pm, followed by the awards ceremony.

Recap of 3/12 Games

There were two quarterfinal games last night in the Varsity Consolation Bracket. In the first, School of the Madeleine defeated St. Mary’s of Escondido. In the second game, St. James Academy defeated Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. School of the Madeleine and St. James will face each other on Thursday at 6:30pm for a trip to Championship Night.The winner will face St. John Encinitas for the Consolation Championship.  Championship Saturday will begin at 3pm with the Varsity Consolation Championship, followed by “The Battle for 3rd Place”. Then the SD County Championship at 5pm, followed by the awards ceremony.

Recap of 3/10 Games

St. Rose of Lima will tip off against Instituto Mexico for the San Diego County Championship on Saturday at 5pm. Varsity 3rd Place Bracket & Consolation Bracket are still fighting it out. JV Championship and Consolation Championships are set but there are two more games to determine the 3rd place game. Championship Saturday will begin at 3pm with the Varsity Consolation Championship, followed by “The Battle for 3rd Place”. Then the SD County Championship at 5pm, followed by the awards ceremony.

Recap of 3/8 and 3/9 Games

The Varsity Final Four is set for Sunday. JV Championship and Consolation Championship games are also set. The road to Championship Night continues…

Recap of 3/7 Games

Last night there were three JV Elite 8 games. In the first game, St. Michael Poway defeated Instituto Mexico. In the second game, St. Patrick Carlsbad defeated St. Didacus. And in the final game of the evening, Our Lady of Grace beat St. Rita. The three winners advance to the Final Four on Saturday, March 9th.

There are three games this evening. The first game is the last JV Elite 8 game, St. Therese vs School of the Madeleine. The second game is JV Consolation, St. Rose of Lima vs Notre Dame Academy. The third game is JV Consolation Final Four, St. Pius X vs St. Martin of Tours. The attached schedule is updated through last night.

Recap of 3/6 Games

There are three JV Winners Bracket games this evening. It’s the Elite 8. Instituto Mexico vs St. Michael Poway, St. Patrick Carlsbad vs St. Didacus , and Our Lady of Grace vs St. Rita.

Recap of 3/5 Games

There were three JV games last night. In the first game, St. Patrick’s from North Park won by forfeit. In the second game, St. Rose of Lima defeated St. Joseph. And in the final game of the evening, Notre Dame Academy beat St. John of the Cross. There are three JV games this evening.

Recap of 3/4 Games

There were two varsity games on Monday night. In the first, St. Joseph Academy Crusaders from San Marcos, defeated the Knights from St. Mary Escondido. St. Joseph was led by Noah DiNapoli and Jack Cavallier. In the second game, the Crusaders from St. John of the Cross defeated the Crusaders from Sacred Heart of Coronado.  St. John was led by Alec Simas and Elias Eribez.

Recap of 3/1 – 3/3 Games

The games this weekend were exactly what this tourney is all about…MARCH MADNESS! One of the best and emotional varsity games was yesterday, between St. Michael of Poway and St. John Encinitas. They went back and forth, until St. Michael’s started pulling away. They won 31-21.

Recap of 2/28 Games

Instituto Mexico’s varsity defeated St. Columba. JV started last night with St. Michael Poway winning against Good Shepherd. In the second JV game, it took two overtimes for St. Patrick’s of Carlsbad to defeat All Hallows. Tonight (Friday) there are 3 JV games.

Recap of 2/26 Games

The third night featured top seeded St. Rose of Lima defeating a good St. James Academy team. In the second game of the evening, St. Columba was victorious against St. Didacus. There are no games tonight due to the Saints varsity basketball playoff game. Games resume tomorrow night 2/27.

Recap of 2/25 Games

The second night featured no surprises. St. John of the Cross and Sacred Heart Coronado won their games.

Tonight, St. Didacus goes against St. Columba at 6:30pm. The second game features St. Rose of Lima versus St. James Academy at 7:30pm.

Recap of 2/24 Games

The 59th Annual Saints Alumni Parochial Basketball Championships opened with a couple of surprises. In the 4th game of the tournament, School of the Madeleine lost to St. John Encinitas in the best game of the day. It was a seesaw battle with St. John up by four early in the game.

Then Madeleine came back behind the play of Andrew Alves, and they were up by six. But the Eagles would not give up. Center Mikey Madden made some key shots and grabbed some offensive rebounds that were turned into points.

Next thing you knew the game was over and St. John was victorious. Madeleine, who has always been one of the top teams in the tourney, find themselves in the  Consolation Bracket where they will play Our Lady’s.

St. John Encinitas moves on to play St. Michael of Poway, on Sunday, March 3rd at 5pm.

The other surprise was Our Lady of Grace defeating Notre Dame Academy.The Phantoms who had a regular season record of 3-5, fought and scraped the whole game to defeat the Dolphins, who were one of the top seeds in the tourney. All games are played at Saints historic Dougherty gymnasium.

Contact hoops@alumnisahs.org if you have any questions.