Marcus Washington leads Modesto Christian to third straight, 22nd Sac-Joaquin Section title

Transfer from San Jose makes 10 of 11 shots in last of six section championship game at Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings

Marcus Washington didn't win much at his previous school, Valley Christian-San Jose. So to arrive at Modesto Christian, the kings of boys basketball in the Sac-Joaquin Section, it was more than a little refreshing.

If not for his game-high 21 points (10 of 11 from the field) and eight rebounds, the Crusaders probably wouldn't have pulled out their record 22nd SJS championship Wednesday with a tenacious 68-63 victory over league rival Lincoln-Stockton. 

CIF-Sac Joaquin Section basketball championships: Live updates — Modesto Christian boys, St. Mary's each win 22nd titles

The 6-foot-4 senior did much of his work in the second half when upstart Lincoln, the seventh seed, simply wouldn't go away. But either to Washington, who made a critical putback with 1:25 to go to go up 63-57.

His determined bucket when it looked like Lincoln would bound and break typified his gritty and highly efficient evening. 

Gavin Sykes, Modesto Christian / Photo: Ralph Thompson

Myles Jones had 17 points and Gavin Sykes 16 for the Crusaders, who won their third straight SJS title and will likely move into the CIF Northern California Open Division playoffs next week.

"I just wanted to win for this team and for the coaches and the (Modesto Christian) family," Washington told the NFHS Network. "I didn't win much at my last team so I'm just trying to help us go all the way. It's fun to win championships."

It was the third time the Crusaders (27-5) beat Lincoln (26-6) this year, by previous counts of 68-53 and 67-61. Lincoln, which never led in the second half, got 18 points by Donez Lindsey, 16 from Quentin Thompson and 13 by Anthony Moore.

Marcus Washington (12) also played some stellar defense / Photo: Ralph Thompson

Perhaps because of the large gym, neither team fired up many 3-pointers, as Lincoln made 3 of 12 and Modesto just 3-for-10.

The first half was a windshield wiper of change as the lead changed hands 19 times with three ties before early in the third quarter, Modesto Christian took the lead for good a bucket by Myles Jones to break a 32-32 tie. 

Look: Photo gallery of Modesto Christian's 68-63 win over Lincoln in Sac-Joaquin Section D1 boys basketball finals

Washington followed with two inside buckets, to extend the lead to 38-32. From there, the Crusaders simply held Lincoln off as the lead fluctuated between 4-10 until the final horn. 

Lincoln will likely advance to the NorCal Division 1 tournament next week. 

Modesto Christian celebrates its third straight SJS D1 title.  / Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson

(Photos below by Ralph Thompson)

Live updates below

Division 1 boys: (8 p.m.)

No. 1 Modesto Christian (26-5) vs. No. 1 Lincoln (26-5) on NFHS

Fourth quarter

• Modesto Christian 68, Lincoln 63 (final): 22nd SJS title for the Crusaders.

• MC 67, Lincoln 63: Isaiah Davis with another 3 but only 17 seconds left.

• MC 63, Lincoln 57: Big putback by Washington, scored 14 points in second half for MC

• MC 61, Lincoln 57 (1:23): Nifty move and 3-point play by Lindsey.

• MC 54, Lincoln 50: Isaiah Davis 3-pointer, his first bucket of night, cuts lead to four.

• MC 54, Lincoln 45 (6:05): Gavin Sykes with three-point play puts Modesto Christian in control.

• MC 49, Lincoln 44: Huge 3-pointer by Myles Jones gives MC a cushion.

• MC 46, Lincoln 44: Anthony Moore gets Lincoln to within a bucket.

Third quarter

• MC 46, Lincoln 42 (end of 3): Anthony Moore leads 6-0 run with a bucket.

• Modesto Christian 46, Lincoln 36: Crusaders open up biggest of of game after Marcus Washington bucket.

Second quarter

• Modesto Christian 32, Lincoln 29 (halftime): Ry Atkins with his first bucket puts the Crusaders up three at halftime.

• Modesto Christian 30, Lincoln 29: Lincoln's Quentin Thompson off glass for another contested bucket

• Modesto Christian 28, Lincoln 26: Myles Jones with tough jumper for Modesto Christian

First quarter

• Modesto Christian 16, Modesto Christian 15 (end of first quarter

• Lincoln 15, Modesto Christian 14: Jagger Merolla with a bucket puts Lincoln up

Never gets old. Photos on the floor of the Golden 1 Center / Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson