Shadow Mountain beats Sierra Canyon in OT at Hoophall West
Richard Obert
A day after dispatching one Southern California power, Phoenix Shadow Mountain on Saturday took down another.
This time, the Matadors needed overtime to withstand Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon 80-78 before a big crowd at Scottsdale Chaparral in the final game of the Hoophall West basketball showcase.
After Jovan Blacksher's free throw gave Shadow Mountain a 70-68 lead, Sierra Canyon quickly dribbled down court and launched a 3 that bounced right into a teammate's hands for follow in that a ref ruled in time, sending the game into OT.
Antonio Reeves nailed the game-winning 3-point shot, giving him six points in overtime and15 in the game.
Blacksher had 18 points, eight assists and five steals, Shemar Morrow had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Immanuel Allen 15 points and 10 rebounds for top-ranked Shadow Mountain.
Shadow Mountain gave up considerable height in its two Hoophall West games, but more than made up for it with quickness, speed, help defense and great ball movement.
Sierra Canyon features two sons of former NBA players -- Kenyon Martin Jr., and Scotty Pippen Jr.
This was a testament to how well-conditioned coach Mike Bibby's Shadow Mountain team is, winning four games in a brutal week that improved the Matadors to 7-0 with their next big game coming up Friday against Phoenix Pinnacle and talented point guard Nico Mannion.
Phoenix Shadow Mountain relies on guards Jovan Blacksher and Jaelen House. But there are so many more parts to this team.
Athleticism, combined with great defense and passing led Arizona's No. 1 high school basketball team to an 85-81 victory Friday night over Chino Hills (Calif.) in a nationally televised game at the American Family Insurance Hoophall West basketball showcase at Scottsdale Chaparral.
House had 21 points and Blacksher 18 points and 10 steals, leading Shadow Mountain against one of the best teams in California, one that went undefeated two years ago when Lonzo Ball was the lead guard.
These days at Chino, there is only one Ball -- 6-foot-7 senior wing Andre Ball, who is a cousin to the famous Ball brothers.
Chino Hills' team revolves around 6-9 junior Onyeka Okongwu, who had 33 points and 16 rebounds and made all 13 of his free throws.
Even though Shadow Mountain was giving up length, it always had two or three players buzzing around Okongwu, who has all of the Pac-12 recruiting him.
"They were bouncing off of me early and keeping track of me the whole game," Okongwu said. "That's one of the best teams in the nation and I felt we defended well against them."
Shadow Mountain coach Mike Bibby said he didn't expect Chino Hills to knock down six 3-pointers in the first three quarters. But Shadow Mountain was able to get Phaquan Davis to foul out with five minutes left and Shadow Mountain leading by nine. Davis made four 3s and had 17 points.
Okongwu got into early foul trouble and picked up his third and fourth fouls with five minutes left in the third quarter when he was assessed a technical for arguing a charging call.
Chino Hills coach Dennis Latimore left Okongwu in the game. He didn't pick up another foul, but Shadow Mountain was able to take a 16 point lead in the third quarter, behind House, Blacksher and company.
"We just have to be smarter (at the end of the game)," Bibby said. "Not rush it."
Bibby said there was really no statement to make. He is getting five new players to mesh with Blacksher and House, who have been part of Shadow Mountain's last two state titles.
It's going to take time. He wants to see his team close out quality opponents. Shadow Mountain will get that chance again Saturday night against Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon in the final game of the Hoophall West at Chaparral.
- Shadow Mountain's depth is the best in the Mike Bibby coaching era. Bibby last year had a seven-man rotation on his team's way to New York for nationals. This team is even deeper, and more skilled and athletic. Shemar Morrow, a 6-foot-2 junior from La Mirada, Calif., fears nobody. And 6-3 senior wing Immanuel Allen gives Shadow Mountain quickness and an enforcer in the post.
- The chemistry between Shadow Mountain guards Jovan Blacksher and Jaelen House is amazing. They always know how to set the other up, and with help in the perimeter from guys like Morrow and 6-3 junior Jalen Williams, it only makes them better. House hit three, high-arching 3-pointers during a two-minute stretch in the second quarter that pushed Shadow Mountain's lead to 28-25. Allen sealed the win at the end with a steal at midcourt.
- Shadow Mountain didn't press that much against long and athletic Chino Hills. But it was tremendous on help defense, getting 10 steals in the first half, three in less than a minute during a 5-0 surge to close out the half for a 37-31 lead.
"I felt we let off the gas pedal and we shouldn't have. We'll patch that up tomorrow. We just tried to stop (Okongwu) as much as possible. Off the ball, we made sure he wasn't by himself. I think we've been playing good. But this is just one game." -- Jaelen House
Super 10 rankings:Through Dec. 4
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