Notre Dame’s Piedra Proves Again He’s a Hart Breaker

The Notre Dame High boys’ basketball team should take along senior guard Jorge Piedra whenever the Knights play Hart.

For the second time this summer, Piedra beat the Indians with a last-second shot as he made a three-point basket with three seconds to play to give Notre Dame a 61-60 victory in the “War on the Floor” tournament Saturday at Sylmar High.

The Knights, who won three games Saturday to improve to 3-3 in the tournament, will play Rolling Hills Prep in the losers’ bracket consolation final at 8:10 tonight. Notre Dame reached the final by defeating Valencia, 50-47. Valencia missed a free throw and two shots off offensive rebounds in the last six seconds.

Notre Dame trailed Hart, 60-58, when Piedra stole a pass with 32 seconds left and sank the decisive three-pointer. He scored 31 points, including five three-pointers.

Earlier this summer in the Crespi tournament, Notre Dame beat Hart by a basket thanks to a last-second layup by Piedra.

“I love it,” Piedra said. “These kind of games are fun. It’s the reason why I play.”

Hart forward Cory Johnson matched Piedra with 31 points. The Indians played without starting guards J.T. Stotts and Jerry Owens.

Rolling Hills Prep 53, Alemany 49--Jesus Castillon scored 19 points and Justin Savitt had 12 in a losing effort for the Indians.

Valencia 51, Montclair Prep 38--Eskias McDaniels and Marc Sison each scored 13 points to lead the Vikings.

Alemany 56, Cleveland 51--Ryan Spencer scored 12 points, all on three-point baskets in the second half, to spark the Indians to a come-from-behind victory.

Rolling Hills Prep 49, Burbank 47--Juni Williams scored a team-high 15 points for the Bulldogs but was called for a double dribble with two seconds left and the score tied, 47-47. Robert Davis, who finished with a game-high 21 points, took the inbounds pass and hit a short bank shot at the buzzer.

Alemany 56, St. John Bosco 45--DeJon Lee scored 15 points and Castillon added 13 for the Indians, who led throughout.

Montclair Prep 67, Granada Hills 44--Rocky Steryo scored 24 points and the Mounties used a 24-7 surge in the first 10 minutes of the second half to break it open.

Rolling Hills Prep 51, Chatsworth 35--Monte McFarland scored 14 points for Chatsworth, but the Chancellors were eliminated.