Chaminade Takes Transfers for 64-57 Ride

So much for the transfer of power in the Mission League.

Alemany High fans showed up in force Saturday night, hoping the five transfers the Indians gained since last season were enough to knock off defending champion Chaminade.

Didn’t happen.

Instead, Alemany fans were left questioning the 33 foul calls against the Indians and wishing their team could replay the final two minutes.

In a see-saw second half, J.J. Todd’s dunk with 1:20 remaining put Chaminade ahead for good and the Eagles pulled away with free throws to win it, 64-57, in front of a standing-room-only crowd at L.A. Baptist High.

Todd, a 6-foot-11 starter who played only about nine minutes, returned to the game with three minutes remaining and provided the final surge for the Eagles (16-3, 5-1 in league play), who claimed their first lead early in the third quarter.

Todd’s dunk--only the second of the senior’s career--on Clarence Mitchell’s assist gave Chaminade a 58-57 lead, the 11th and final lead change of the second half.

Todd grabbed the rebound of an Alemany miss on the ensuing possession, was fouled and made one of two free throws for a 59-57 advantage. He rebounded another Alemany miss and started a fast break culminating in a dunk by Scott Borchart for a 61-57 lead with 32 seconds left.

Borchart finished with 24 points.

“[Todd] hasn’t produced [this season] like I thought he would,” Coach Jeff Young said. “[But] that right there pays off for everything.”

Todd was pulled from the game early when Alemany’s trapping full-court press forced six turnovers and Young opted for better ballhandlers.

Alemany (11-6, 4-2) took its biggest leads in the first quarter, 20-10 and 22-12, before Chaminade caught up at halftime, 32-32, on a three-point basket by Mitchell.