Boys’ basketball: Cody Riley sets state record with 22 rebounds in Sierra Canyon win

How dominant was 6-foot-8 sophomore Cody Riley of Chatsworth Sierra Canyon on Friday at Haas Pavilion in the CIF state Division V championship game?

So dominant that he put himself in the record book with 22 rebounds, the most in state championship game history. He also had 18 points and three blocks as Sierra Canyon (26-4) cruised to an 80-55 victory over San Francisco University.

The outcome was never in doubt from the beginning, when Sierra Canyon scored the game’s first 14 points. University trailed, 36-23, at halftime and never really threatened the Trailblazers, who were an Open Division team sent back to Division V after losing in the Southern Section quarterfinals.

Their starting lineup of four sophomores and a junior is so good that Sierra Canyon figures to be one of the top teams in the country next season, especially after 6-8 Ira Lee returns from a shoulder injury to join Riley and form one of the most imposing duos around.

“There’s no ego in the locker room,” Coach Ty Nichols said. “These kids are all about winning. And losses hurt.”

Sophomore Remy Martin turned in a big performance, scoring 19 points while being aggressive on offense. Terrance McBride and Devearl Ramsey added 13 points apiece.

University Coach Randy Bessolo said his team faced a tall challenge to compete with the Trail Blazers.

“They’re super talented, and the scary thing is they’re young,” he said. “There was no beating them today.”

As for Riley’s performance, Nichols said, “He’s a kid who deserves to have his name in the record book. Our goal for him all year long was to average double double. To get 22 rebounds in any high school game is phenomenal.”

The old record was 21 rebounds by Isaiah Fox of Crossroads and Bobby Jones of Compton Dominguez.

Said Riley: “It was great but I have to give credit to my teammates. They’re the ones who kept me going. ‘Keep going on the glass. You can set a record.’”

Twitter:@LATSondheimer