Salesian gets gritty to win first CIF Northern California Regional Open Division boys basketball title over Riordan — Live update recap

Salesian fights back from 11-point first-half deficit to win fifth regional title overall

Riordan's immensely talented boys basketball team hit Salesian not just once but twice, yet as Bill Mellis has said all season:  

"This team does not panic," he said after his team's gritty 49-44 victory over a very determined Riordan squad in the Northern California Open Division finals Tuesday at Contra Costa College. "They don't budge. They just stick together and make plays." 

And honestly, they don't care who makes them. 

Zander Jimenez (4) let's it fly for the Pride.  / Photo: Greg Jungferman

A team that doesn't have a single player who average scoring in double figures simply didn't wilt at the defensive side in a game where defenses ruled and shooting was very much off.. 

They got 11 points by Carlton Perrilliat and nine from Aaron Hunkin-Claytor and a combined 14 from Alvin Loving and De'Undrae Perteete. Two teams that average just over 70 points per game didn't get to 50. 

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Zion Sensley had 13 points and Dorde Curcic 11 for Riordan, which finished 25-5. 

Salesian (31-1), which won its fourth regional title and first at the Open level, now plays defending champion Harvard-Westlake in Saturday's 8 p.m. championship at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. 

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The win was Salesian's 19th in a row, while halting Riordan's 16-game win streak. 

It was the second win in a row for Salesian over Riordan this season. The Pride beat the Crusaders 61-48 at the De La Salle MLK Classic on Jan. 15.  

Read below for our live updates recap from the SoCal D1 boys championship game Tuesday.

Salesian fights back, wins first CIF Northern California Open Division title with comeback win over Riordan

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES

Salesian 49, Riordan 44 (final): Two free throws by Perrilliat cinches it. 

Riordan 40, Salesian 39: After Salesian took a brief lead on a 3-pointer by Davis, who then sent an ally oop pass to Perteete. But Riordan Emeneke immediately responded with tough inside bucket, to put Riordan back up on top.  

THIRD QUARTER UPDATES

Riordan 38, Salesian 34 (end of 3): Crusaders respond with a 3-pointer and bucket from Dorde Curcic and massive dunk by Kaia Berridge to go up four heading into the fourth. Curcic sends the pretty pass for dunk. Great quarter. 

Salesian 33, Riordan 31: Two more free throws by Carlton Perrilliat - he's made six straight - completes 13-5 run and gives Pride first lead since very early. 

Isaiah Davis (5) flies into toward the bucket under a heavy contest.  / Photo: Greg Jungferman

SECOND QUARTER UPDATES

Riordan 28, Salesian 20: A 3-pointer by Hunkin-Claytor cuts a double-digit lead to eight. Riordan's defense, led by Nes Emeneke, helps hold the Pride to just eight second-quarter points. Emeneke, a 6-9 forward transfer from Woodside Priory, had three blocks in the second quarter alone. 

FIRST QUARTER UPDATES

Riordan 13, Salesian 12 (end of 1): Despite two fouls on Sensley, Crusaders take first-quarter lead. 

Riordan 6, Salesian 5 (4:30): Takes Crusaders almost three minutes to score on fastbreak layup by Sensley, who then drills a 3-pointer while being fouled. He converts a four-point play. 

PREGAME NOTES: While the Pride is a particularly tight-knit group, and relies upon it, the Crusaders features raw talent, with at least eight players who have been offered Division 1 scholarships, including their star, St. Mary’s College-signee Zion Sensley. Point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Hawaii) leads Salesian, but no one averages more than 10 points per game. The balance is scary and deep.

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“Riordan is playing much better than when we played them on MLK Day," Salesian coach Bill Mellis said. "They are so long and talented that they present a lot of problems. … There isn’t much room for mistakes.”

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