Hill leads Fairfax to upset of St. Patrick, 62-61, in Nike Extravaganza

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Fairfax didn’t get its best game from its best player, but Solomon Hill stepped up for the Lions in a 62-61 victory over Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High.

Neither team led by more than five points in the second half.

Hill, No. 44 pictured, broke a 58-58 tie by converting two free throws with 1 minute 40 seconds left. St. Patrick re-tied the score, 61-61, on a driving layup by Dexter Strickland with 29 seconds left, but the Lions collected two offensive rebounds, and junior guard Lance Bailey was fouled on the second with 9.1 seconds left. He made one of two free throws to give the Lions their final lead.

Jermel Jenkins had an open three-point attempt with about three seconds left but he missed and Strickland was unable to control the rebound as time expired.

Hill finished with a team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, overshadowing the player many came to watch, 6-foot-10 teammate Renardo Sidney, who finished with nine points and four rebounds in nearly 24 minutes. before fouling out with 6:38 left to play.

Strickland was by far the best player for St. Patrick, totaling 28 points on nine-of-12 shooting.

USA Today had St. Patrick ranked No. 10 in the nation coming into this game, Fairfax was No. 25, so expect to see the Lions move up.

Mater Dei and Chicago Farragut tipped off at 9:55 p.m.

--Dan Arritt

-- Image from Glenn Koenig/Los Angeles Times