Chaminade Is History After Shot Is Long

The Chaminade High boys’ basketball team gave University of San Diego High and its three Division I recruits all they could handle Thursday night, but it wasn’t quite enough to extend the Eagles’ storybook run.

Chaminade ended the best season in school history with a 64-63 loss to University in a Southern Regional Division III semifinal in front of a capacity crowd of 2,000 at the University of San Diego.

“I was proud of the way we played,” said Chaminade forward Scott Long, who has accepted an appointment from Navy. “I think we showed a lot of guts and I think we gained a lot of respect.”

University (24-4), ranked No. 9 in the state, ended a 25-game winning streak by the Eagles (28-2) and will play Washington of Fresno in the final Saturday.

Chaminade, which outrebounded University, 24-18, had a few chances to tie it in the final minute, but none more dramatic than Long’s three-point shot from the wing with his team trailing, 64-61, and two seconds left.

Long’s shot was long but Justin Beach tipped it in at the buzzer.

“You don’t like the loss, but you’ve got to be proud of your team,” Chaminade Coach Jeff Young said. “They played down to the last second. It just stinks that it has to end with a loss.”

After a timeout with 18 seconds left, Chaminade’s plan was to get the ball to Long or Beach for a three-point shot but the Eagles used most of the time trying to get them open.

Chaminade, which led by seven points in the first quarter, trailed through most of the second and third quarter and by 51-45 heading into the fourth.

The Eagles’ undoing proved to be a 1-of-12 shooting performance in the second quarter, when they were outscored, 18-6.

Chaminade caught University, 51-51, after the Dons were scoreless in the first 4:08 of the quarter.

But the Dons took a 60-55 lead on a three-pointer by David Abramowitz, who had 29 points, with 1:17 remaining.

Long, who had 19 points, hit two of three free throws and freshman Scott Borchart rebounded the miss, scored and was fouled.

Borchart, who had 17 points, missed his free throw and Chaminade trailed, 60-59, with 1:01 left.

Luke Walton, a 6-foot-8 center and son of Bill Walton, missed all four of his free throws until the final minute, when he made four. The last two gave him 21 points and made it 64-61 with 18 seconds left.