Under Armour Holiday Class Action Stream
- D'Erryl Williams, Sheldon
- Brynton Lemar, St. Augustine
- Justise Winslow, St. John's
- Kris Yanku, Taft
- Tre'Shaun Fletcher, Lincoln
- Ahmaad Rorie, Lincoln
- Jose Estrada, Cantwell Sacred Heart
- Jordan Wilson, Windward
- Jermaine Edmonds, Jr., Salesian
- Devin Watson, Army-Navy
- Sean O'Brien, Mundelein
- Evan Fitzner, Francis Parker
- Ivan Rabb, Bishop O'Dowd
Sheldon senior Dakarai Allen suffered a cut on his right eyebrow early in the Huskies' Under Armour Holiday Classic championship tilt against St. Augustine. His white uniform streaked pink from blood, Allen came out of the game but quickly returned. All he did from that point was completely dominate all facets to lead Sheldon to a 64-47 rout for the National Division title.
A capacity crowd at Torrey Pines gym watched National Division Most Valuable Player score 21 points, dish out assists, swipe steals, block shots and grab rebounds. His total effort was punctuated with a two-handed dunk over a defender in the fourth quarter.
Many in the audience sported San Diego State black-and-red, there to get a glimpse of Aztec basketball's future. And that future is bright with Allen and Sheldon teammate D'Erryl Williams coming onto the Mesa. Williams was named to the All-Tournament team.
"All the fans here, coming to see me after the game, it's really great," Allen said.
The San Diego State faithful -- as well as Aztec head coach Steve Fisher, who was also in attendance -- had to enjoy Allen's third quarter. He led a 27-11 run that overwhelmed St. Augustine. The Saints kept it close through the halftime, employing the same tenacious defense that led them past nationally ranked Salesian in Friday's semifinal.
St. Augustine fell short of its ultimate goal, but reached an impressive milestone in playing in the National Division championship game. The Saints were the first San Diego-area team to do so since 2004.
"This [tournament] makes a big statement about us [in CIF San Diego Section]," said Saint swing man Brynton Lemar. Lemar scored 19 points to lead St. Augustine, and was named All-Tournament.
"These games help us prepare for league. I'm proud of our guys, because everyone fought hard," he added. "We play together. We play hard all the time. People may not think we're one of the top teams in the country or state, but I think we are, my teammates think we are and the coaches think we are."
The Saints turns to league competition after the New Year, aiming to parlay the lessons of the Holiday Classic into success in the sectional and state playoffs. A CIF championship is the ultimate goal for which St. Augustine aims to use its tournament performance as a springboard.
But Sheldon will also be after the state championship. And Allen like his teams chances, the confidence of a Holiday Classic title now buoying the Huskies.
"We're a dangerous team. When we have all our players, we are really dangerous," Allen said.
The Huskies participated in the 2011 Holiday Classic, and performed well -- but nowhere near the high levels they reached in 2012. Allen said the program has made major strides.
"Our team is more aggressive. We have more of a team vibe. Last year, we were just kind of running out there, but now we have more of a system [on offense]," he said.
Mission Hills closed on a 22-7 run to beat Mesa, 60-53, and win the American Division championship of the 2012 Under Armour Holiday Classic. American Division Most Valuable Player Kibert Woldemichel capped an outstanding tournament with his best performance yet, scoring 26 points to led the Grizzlies.
Teammates Kameron Rooks earned All-Tournament honors. Rooks scored the majority of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, using his 7-foot frame and a soft touch on turnaround shots in the post. Rooks also played a strong defensive game on Mesa's 6-foot-10 center, Isaac Allen.
Mesa All-Tournament selection D.J. Henderson scored 12 points in the loss.
Mayor's Division Most Valuable Player Sam Worman played a great all-around game in Torrey Pines' 56-35 rout of Sierra Canyon. When he wasn't scoring in the paint or knocking down 3-pointers en route to a game high 20 points, Worman was finding open Falcon teammates like Dominic Hovasse and Connor Milmoe. Hovasse scored 17 points to help Torrey Pines claim the Mayor's Division championship. Milmoe earned All-Tournament recognition for his defensive and rebounding efforts.
Sierra Canyon's dynamic youngster duo of Derryck Thornton and Devearl Ramsey started hot, but Torrey Pines took control with a big run that began late in the second quarter, and spilled into the third. Thornton was named All-Tournament.
Bishop O'Dowd sophomore center Ivan Rabb saved his best for last, scoring 30 points to send the Dragons out of the National Division winners, 66-62 over Francis Parker.
"It was big for us, because we had two tough losses," Rabb said. "We couldn't lose this one too."
The Dragons dropped games to Mundelein and Windward in their previous two outings. Those losses didn't sit well with Rabb, who played like he had something to prove on Saturday -- because, according to him, he did.
"I took [the losses] personal. I wasn't playing well," he said. "[The team] took advantage of opportunities, and I played pretty well today."
Francis Parker All-Tournament honoree Evan Fitzner scored 21 points. The Lancer big man showed off his long shooting range, nailing a few 3-pointers to keep Francis Parker within striking distance of the Dragons.
Elsewhere in the National Division, All-Tournament selection Devin Watson lit it up for 28 points to lead Army-Navy to a 67-62 defeat of Mundelein. Sean O'Brien scored 19 points in the losing effort, and was named to the All-Tournament team.
West Torrance locked up Capital Christian, 51-38, in the Senator's Division. Stefan Inouye and Terrell Carter each scored 14 points for the Warriors.
In the Governor's Division, Knight outlasted Chaparall, 57-54.
Montgomery topped Lodi in the Senator's Division, 60-56, while Cienega edged out Bishops in Governor's Division competition.
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Lincoln's 80-60 win over St. John's in the consolation championship of the Under Armour Holiday Classic National Division made a statement, according to the Abes' All-Tournament forward, Tre'Shaun Fletcher.
"We've got some ball players in Washington, too," he said.
Fletcher is committed to join reigning Pacific 12 Conference champion Colorado in 2013, but in the meantime, he wants a championship for Lincoln. The Abes used Saturday's tilt with Texas-based St. John's as a tune-up in pursuit of the Washington State championship.
"Justise Winslow was a good player, and we have some players in our league similar to him," Fletcher said. "A win like this gives us some confidence going back to Washington."
Abe defenders swarmed Winslow every time he touched the ball, making the highly touted 2014 recruit work for every look at the rim.
Fletcher, who scored 19 points, added going head-to-head with Winslow was a challenge he took personally.
"That's a challenge I take [seriously]," he said. "I wanted to show I'm up there at the top [among Western recruits]."
His place on the All-Tournament did accomplished just that. Abe teammate Ahmaad Rorie was also named All-Tournament. He scored a team high 24 points.
Lincoln was unrelenting, building a double digit lead early in the first half and piled on, going up by as many as 28 points.
St. John's whittled away at the lead behind Winslow's 28 points, but couldn't cut the deficit below 10. The Maverick big man Winslow scored a variety of ways, including on a few dunks. His most spectacular, however, didn't count.
Drawing a charge may not be the most glamorous job -- particularly in an instance like this -- but it's these kind of little things that made the difference for Lincoln.
In the American Division, Mira Costa held Carson to just 27 points en route to a 50-27 victory. Senator's Division action Saturday morning went the way of Westview, which beat Walnut Grove, 57-46. Guard Thomas Barajas led all scorers with 20 points.
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