Congratulations to the Lowell Basketball Champions
The San Francisco AAA Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Championships were played last night at Kezar Pavilion. The Girls championship pitted the Washington Eagles (12-3) against the Lowell Cardinals (13-1). The Boys Championship matched the Lowell Cardinals (16-2) against the Mission Bears (11-7).
In the regular season Washington and Lowell girls split their two games. Washington took the Battle of the Birds in an exhilarating 3OT game, final score 64-57. Lowell evened the match two weeks later in a low scoring 37-29 game.
The championship started off even, with both teams struggling to score. Lowell moved the ball well but could not find the seams, settling for outside shots. Washington struggled against Lowell's pressure defense all night. In the first half Brittany Woo carried the team, scoring 9 of their 13 points. By the time Lowell's defense adjusted, other Eagles were not able to step up, and the game broke for Lowell. Washington was never able to mount a comeback and Lowell took control of the game, winning 55-30. Heather Chow lead a balanced scoring attack for Lowell, with Angelina Clay and Anna Bukareva contributing key baskets.
On paper, the boys' game looked like it would be a mismatch. Lowell had the better record and had won their only previous game, though it was a close match at 72-69. But none of that mattered on this night. Mission was a younger team that had put it all together at the right time, riding a hot streak to beat ISA and Lincoln to reach the championship.
Mission coach Judson Steele had his team playing an electrifying, unselfish team ball featuring unrelenting speed from the guards combined with a bruising interior defense led by Ronell Foster and Jordan Pusung that kept the pressure on Lowell all night. Mission guard Demaree Hampton and Harry Howard lead the impressive Mission backcourt attack, with high energy bursts from Raffy Amandaza and Grant Thomas creating major problems for Lowell's defenders. The Mission front line anchored a bruising defense that challenged any ball that went inside. Mission was hot, and they played with confidence and poise.
The game started well for Lowell. Their ball was moving well and the outside shots were falling as they opened up an early lead. But Mission's aggressive D took it's toll, and when Lowell's high flying forward Arthur Jones was injured on a 2nd quarter drive to the hoop, Mission pounced and erased Lowell's lead. Lowell's experienced backcourt of Travis Hom and Jordan Wong countered Missions surge and Lowell built a 36-22 lead at halftime.
Missions intensity on both ends of the court paid off in the 2nd half. With Jones on the bench Mission came back with a 11-0 streak to start the 4th quarter. Mission's sophomore standout Hampton was a force during that streak, applying pressure D to force many turnovers leading to fast breaks and open shots. When Travis Hom cramped up in the 4th quarter it did not look good for Lowell. Mission took the lead, Lowell answered, and for the final five minutes the lead changed hands repeatedly. The back and forth featured red hot shooting by both Hampton and Wong, as well as clutch free throws by both teams.
Regulation ended in a tie, but with Jones and Hom injured, and Jordan Wong starting to cramp up too, Mission had a clear advantage. Yet Lowell dug deep and found a will to win, with all the injured players playing through obvious pain to provide an emotional lift to their team. With a few key plays from Lowell's deep roster, like a three pointer from guard Alex McNabb and some key possession saving offensive rebounds and loose ball recoveries from Pat Shock and Jabob Hanft, Lowell found a way to win. The final score was a repeat of their regular season score, 72-69.
The excitement on the court ignited a packed Kezar crowd. Lowell's "6th Man" boosters turned the volume up while Mission's fans rocked the house. I'm a Lowell dad, and my daughter played for the Lowell JV squad, so I have an obvious bias. But everyone was a winner last night, especially the fans. This was basketball the way it should be played. Both teams were well coached, balanced teams featuring standout performances by poised, talented stars. It was this hoop junkie's idea of a great time. Congratulations to all four teams. They should all be proud.
In the regular season Washington and Lowell girls split their two games. Washington took the Battle of the Birds in an exhilarating 3OT game, final score 64-57. Lowell evened the match two weeks later in a low scoring 37-29 game.
The championship started off even, with both teams struggling to score. Lowell moved the ball well but could not find the seams, settling for outside shots. Washington struggled against Lowell's pressure defense all night. In the first half Brittany Woo carried the team, scoring 9 of their 13 points. By the time Lowell's defense adjusted, other Eagles were not able to step up, and the game broke for Lowell. Washington was never able to mount a comeback and Lowell took control of the game, winning 55-30. Heather Chow lead a balanced scoring attack for Lowell, with Angelina Clay and Anna Bukareva contributing key baskets.
On paper, the boys' game looked like it would be a mismatch. Lowell had the better record and had won their only previous game, though it was a close match at 72-69. But none of that mattered on this night. Mission was a younger team that had put it all together at the right time, riding a hot streak to beat ISA and Lincoln to reach the championship.
Mission coach Judson Steele had his team playing an electrifying, unselfish team ball featuring unrelenting speed from the guards combined with a bruising interior defense led by Ronell Foster and Jordan Pusung that kept the pressure on Lowell all night. Mission guard Demaree Hampton and Harry Howard lead the impressive Mission backcourt attack, with high energy bursts from Raffy Amandaza and Grant Thomas creating major problems for Lowell's defenders. The Mission front line anchored a bruising defense that challenged any ball that went inside. Mission was hot, and they played with confidence and poise.
The game started well for Lowell. Their ball was moving well and the outside shots were falling as they opened up an early lead. But Mission's aggressive D took it's toll, and when Lowell's high flying forward Arthur Jones was injured on a 2nd quarter drive to the hoop, Mission pounced and erased Lowell's lead. Lowell's experienced backcourt of Travis Hom and Jordan Wong countered Missions surge and Lowell built a 36-22 lead at halftime.
Missions intensity on both ends of the court paid off in the 2nd half. With Jones on the bench Mission came back with a 11-0 streak to start the 4th quarter. Mission's sophomore standout Hampton was a force during that streak, applying pressure D to force many turnovers leading to fast breaks and open shots. When Travis Hom cramped up in the 4th quarter it did not look good for Lowell. Mission took the lead, Lowell answered, and for the final five minutes the lead changed hands repeatedly. The back and forth featured red hot shooting by both Hampton and Wong, as well as clutch free throws by both teams.
Regulation ended in a tie, but with Jones and Hom injured, and Jordan Wong starting to cramp up too, Mission had a clear advantage. Yet Lowell dug deep and found a will to win, with all the injured players playing through obvious pain to provide an emotional lift to their team. With a few key plays from Lowell's deep roster, like a three pointer from guard Alex McNabb and some key possession saving offensive rebounds and loose ball recoveries from Pat Shock and Jabob Hanft, Lowell found a way to win. The final score was a repeat of their regular season score, 72-69.
The excitement on the court ignited a packed Kezar crowd. Lowell's "6th Man" boosters turned the volume up while Mission's fans rocked the house. I'm a Lowell dad, and my daughter played for the Lowell JV squad, so I have an obvious bias. But everyone was a winner last night, especially the fans. This was basketball the way it should be played. Both teams were well coached, balanced teams featuring standout performances by poised, talented stars. It was this hoop junkie's idea of a great time. Congratulations to all four teams. They should all be proud.
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