Big Rally Gives Price First Title

The boys’ basketball team at Price High in Los Angeles played a schedule this season that was a cut above its Division V status.

The Knights tested themselves several times against larger schools and still entered Saturday’s Division V state championship game against Hoopa Valley with only one loss.

The experience paid off as battle-tested Price overcame a 15-point second quarter deficit to win, 71-66, at Arco Arena and earn its first state title.

Price forward Jermaine Jamison scored 17 points, point guard Mychal Lynch had 15 and guards Chris Alexander and Andrew Howard added 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Knights finished 33-1, their only defeat to Division IV Pasadena Marshall Fundamental.

Spurred by a boisterous crowd of about 1,500 supporters from Humboldt County, Hoopa Valley (31-4) made seven three-point shots in the first half en route to a 39-24 lead with less than two minutes left in the second quarter.

It was the largest deficit Price faced this season.

But the Knights closed to within 39-28 by halftime and 55-48 by the end of the third quarter.

Price finally tied the score, 55-55, on a basket and free throw by Jamison with 5:50 left, then took the lead 25 seconds later on another basket by Jamison.

Ponikvar finished with 25 points.

In another boys’ final:

Concord De La Salle 47, Fresno Clovis West 46--Junior guard Joe See made two free throws with 2.9 seconds left to give De La Salle (31-1) its first Division I title.

Clovis West (39-3), which trailed from late in the first quarter, went ahead, 46-45, on two free throws by Chris Hernandez with 22.4 seconds left.

But Tyrone Jackson fouled See on a shot from the baseline after an inbound play to set up the game-winning free throws.

GIRLS

San Lorenzo Redwood Christian 34, Solana Beach Santa Fe Christian 33--Angela Thompson scored 13 points to lead Redwood Christian (25-5) to its first Division V title.

Brandi Collato scored 17 points for Santa Fe Christian (30-6).