Crespi beats St. Francis to give Derek Fisher first Mission League victory: Southern California boys basketball scores, updates

Freshman Isaiah Barnes scored 13 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with two minutes to play

ENCINO - St. Francis' Mazi Mosley couldn't miss. Each shot he made drew oohs and aahs from the crowd. Layups, 3-pointers, fadeaways - all of it was falling for the highly-touted junior.

Mosely's effort was inching St. Francis back into the game, and at one point, teammate DeLan Grant made a layup that gave the Golden Knights its first lead with five minutes to play.

Crespi was turning the ball over. Joe Sterling, who's averaging 23 points per game, had just six points as he saw his team lose the lead.

All the momentum was with St. Francis until it was snatched away by a freshman playing in his first Mission League game.

Isaiah Barnes caught the ball well beyond the 3-point line and hoisted a jumper that gave the lead back to Crespi with two minutes to play en route to an eventual 57-50 victory over St. Francis at home Friday night.

Deeep 3ball from Isaiah Barnes.

Crespi pulls ahead 49-47. 2 minutes to play pic.twitter.com/4anGYsDu98

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) January 6, 2024

"Anytime he shoots the ball, it has a chance of going in," Crespi coach Derek Fisher said. "I think the reason why he's gained the respect of his teammates is because he has the confidence to even shoot that shot as a freshman in his first Mission League game."

Barnes finished with 13 points. Peyton White notched 15 points and 10 rebounds and Sterling finished with 10 points, including four points in the final two minutes.

The win marked Fisher's first Mission League win and moves the Celts to 18-2 on the season.

Mazi Mosley hits the pull-up jumper. He’s chirping, too. Fired up.

Crespi 27, St. Francis 17. 3:33, 2Q pic.twitter.com/M6QvqtkZEq

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) January 6, 2024

"The atmosphere and competition were consistent with everything I've heard about," Fisher said.

St. Francis scored just three points in the final five minutes. Mazi Mosley finished with 30 points.

"We ran out of gas," St. Francis coach Todd Wolfson said. "But we had the opportunity to win the game, we just didn't grab it."

Mission League boys basketball: Stat leaders as of Jan. 5, 2024

In other Mission League action:

• Notre Dame 77, Loyola 40: Mercy Miller scored 29 points and Lino Mark added 27 in the win.
• Harvard-Westlake 71, Alemany 31: Trent Perry tallied 13 points and eight assists.
• Sierra Canyon 88, Chaminade 48: Bryce Cofield scored 24 points and Noah Williams added 16.

OTHER SCORES, JAN. 5

TRINITY LEAGUE

• St. John Bosco 83, Servite 57: Brandon McCoy led the Braves with 20 points as they move to 2-0 in league play.
• Mater Dei 78, JSerra 67: Brannon Martinsen and Luke Barnett each had 16 points. Brandon Benjamin had 17.
• Santa Margarita 58, Orange Lutheran 35: Cameron McNamee and Brayden Kyman each scored 14.

BASELINE LEAGUE

• Damien 81, Upland 34: Nate Garcia and Xavier Clinton each had 18 points.
• Etiwanda 80, Chino Hills 51: Zion Booker led the Eagles with 14 points.
• Rancho Cucamonga 57, Los Osos 42: Aaron Glass notched 15 points and five rebounds.

DEL REY LEAGUE

• St. Pius 67, St. Paul 58: St. Pius is now the only remaining team unbeaten in league play.
• Serra 62, Bishop Montgomery 56
• St. Anthony 75, St. Bernard 72

GOLD COAST LEAGUE

• Windward 85, Viewpoint 43: Jeremiah Hampton led the Wildcats with 21 points.
• Crossroads 63, Brentwood 53

BAY LEAGUE

• Redondo Union 78, Palos Verdes 71: Alex Hassanein had 36 points in the loss.
• Culver City 59, Mira Costa 49: Christian Kranz had 15 points to lead Culver.

GATEWAY LEAGUE

• La Mirada 76, Mayfair 55: Freshman Gene Roebuck had 28 points.
• Lynwood 92, Dominguez 58: Jason Crow Jr. had 41 points.

FOOTHILL LEAGUE

• West Ranch 93, Hart 57: James Evans notched 27 points and eight rebounds. Bishop Brooks added 20 points and 13 rebounds.

NONLEAGUE

• Calabasas 75, El Camino Real 47: Freshman Grayson Coleman scored 25 points (in three quarters).