Montclair Prep Starts Fast, Finishes in Final, 73-46

Anwawn Jones, Montclair Prep’s standout forward, controlled the opening tipoff against Campbell Hall with such ease that he batted the ball over everyone on the court until teammate Akil Anderson retrieved it near the baseline.

The Mounties controlled the rest of the game with equal ease as they trounced the Vikings, 73-46, in a Southern Section Division V-AA semifinal game before a standing-room-only crowd at Notre Dame High.

Montclair Prep advances to the championship game against Cate of Carpinteria, a 49-35 winner over Brentwood in the other semifinal. The site and time of the final will be determined today.

Campbell Hall, which defeated defending division Southern Section champion Pasadena Poly last Friday, had visions of knocking off the defending division State champion Mounties as well, but Montclair Prep would not allow it.

Jones scored 13 of his 25 points in the first quarter as the Mounties (25-3) took a 7-0 lead 1 minute 35 seconds into the game. They finished the quarter with a 14-4 run to take a 26-8 lead.

“We knew we had the size advantage, but we thought it would be a little more difficult,” said Greg Patterson, co-coach of Montclair Prep. “After the first quarter, we knew we were in control.”

Campbell Hall (17-12) had an 8-0 run in the second quarter, after the Mounties called off their full-court press, and trimmed the deficit to 35-18. But the Mounties put the press back on and outscored Campbell Hall, 6-2, in the final 1:45 of the half to take a 41-20 halftime lead.

“We needed a break,” said Jones, who had 20 rebounds. “We called off the press because we were running and running. We had a comfortable lead, so we were OK.”

The closest the Vikings could get in the fourth quarter was 56-41 after center Helemanu Wallace hit one of two free throws with 6:49 left to play.

After Rocky Steryo hit a jump shot to extend the lead to 63-41, the Vikings committed four quick fouls to put Montclair Prep in the bonus. Jones and Wallace combined to make four consecutive free throws, and Campbell Hall Coach Todd Morenz conceded defeat, pulling out his seniors with 1:41 left to play and the score 69-45.

Campbell Hall forward Mike Appel scored 10 of his 24 points in the third quarter as the Vikings kept pace with the Mounties, trailing, 55-38, after three quarters. But Appel’s effort was not nearly enough as the Mounties closed the game on an 8-1 run.

The Vikings missed all 16 of their three-point attempts.

Steryo scored 14 points for the Mounties and Anderson added 11.

Antelope Valley Christian 65, Pilgrim 57--The second-seeded Eagles (25-0) advanced to the Division V-A championship with a victory at Quartz Hill High. Antelope Valley Christian will meet top-seeded Pacific Hills for the title.