CHATSWORTH — The Sierra Canyon boys basketball team triumphed over Santa Margarita with a score of 72-60, securing their spot in the CIF Southern California Open Division Regional final.
On Tuesday, Sierra Canyon will face Harvard-Westlake for the regional title, aiming for a chance to compete in the state championship game.
Senior forward Maximo Adams highlighted the game with an impressive double-clutch dunk after collecting a loose ball near the basket. Shortly after, senior guard Brandon McCoy added a spectacular windmill dunk following a turnover by Santa Margarita, sealing the victory for the Trailblazers.
McCoy led the team with 23 points and expressed his excitement about the opportunity to showcase his skills, stating, “It”s exciting, like we work so hard to get in this opportunity. So to be able to show out and put on my best performance, it means a lot.”
As the third quarter concluded, Santa Margarita”s senior guard Kaiden Bailey attempted a buzzer-beating three-pointer but missed, unable to shake McCoy”s tight defense. McCoy”s intensity on defense is a hallmark of his playstyle, as he noted, “Just trust my work. Like being out there, trying to hit a flow state where you just play and don”t think too hard and just do well.”
The Trailblazers entered halftime with a 43-28 lead despite facing challenges in the first quarter. Santa Margarita”s senior forward Drew Anderson, who scored eight points in the first quarter and ended the game with a team-high 20 points, suffered a knee injury during the third quarter and did not return to the game.
Head coach Andre Chevalier commented on the Eagles” early performance, saying, “They were able to get a lot of easy buckets. We were able to lock in and figure things out and be able to get the win.”
Despite the victory, Sierra Canyon struggled at the free-throw line, converting only 14 of 27 attempts — an unusual statistic for the team. The Trailblazers recognize the need for improvement in this area as they prepare for their next matchup.
McCoy emphasized the significance of focusing on the upcoming game against Harvard-Westlake, stating, “Great team, got a great coach, and we”re just gonna prepare. You know how it is, playing multiple teams multiple times. So we”re gonna forget about that, act like we never played them before. Trust our scout and work hard and get the win.”
The anticipation builds as Sierra Canyon looks to maintain momentum in the regional final, aiming for a shot at the state championships in Sacramento.
