No team has beaten MC in league since 1996; 3 reasons why Beyer will do it

The Modesto Christian High boys basketball team has won a state-record 176 consecutive league games, a feat that dates back to the 1990s.

Most of the time, if not all of the time, the games aren't even close as Modesto Christian's stable of next-level talent turns each contest into a highlight reel.

Take the Crusaders' last two Modesto Metro Conference games as an example.

Aaron Murphy had 30 points and nine rebounds, Michael Pearson doled out a season-high 11 assists, and Baljot Sahi drained seven 3-pointers in a 93-49 victory over Downey.

Two days earlier, Dathan Satchell knocked down six 3-pointers and led three players in double figures with 22 points as Modesto Christian sailed past Enochs 75-41.

In both games, Junior Ballard, the Stanislaus District's top scoring guard over the last three years, totaled just seven points. That's how deep and talented the Crusaders are this season ... and every season.

Locally, they've yet to meet their match, though Beyer (12-7, 5-1), Wednesday's opponent, gave Modesto Christian (15-3, 6-0) a scare a year ago.

The Patriots had two shots in the final minute of a 58-57 loss, including a floater in the lane by All-District Player of the Year Brian Perry. Both shots missed, allowing the Crusaders to escape with yet another league victory.

"We would have liked to beat them," Beyer coach Kyle McKim said. "It would have been a good win over a really, really good team. It hurt for awhile, but we got over it."

Since the streak began in 1996, no league opponent has been so close to victory. In 2011-12, Ripon dropped a pair of three-point losses to the Crusaders in TVL play.

"This is so important," senior guard Tyler Williams told The Bee after last season's win at Beyer. "We can't lose the streak. That's what MC is known for. We couldn't let anyone come in and take it from us."

Here are three reasons why the streak may be in jeopardy Wednesday against Beyer:

Brandon Gray: The 6-foot-3 forward kept the Patriots within striking distance last season with his energy and tenacity.

That night, the Crusaders were outrebounded by the smaller Patriots, despite featuring twin 6-foot-8 posts Gabe Murphy and Tsotne Tsardsidse. Beyer trailed by eight at the start of the fourth quarter, but made it a one-possession game late by outrebounding Modesto Christian 15-2.

Gray had a game-high 11 rebounds.

A two-sport athlete, Gray's athleticism and length pair nicely with McKim's frenetic style. The Patriots have won six consecutive games by applying pressure on the opposition, a trademark of his 20-win teams in years past. Gray excels at that speed. In a victory over Johansen, he did everything: six points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals.

"There's a lot of guys who can score, but scoring is only one aspect of the game," McKim said. "Guys that know the game and have been around basketball know that you want to find players who can impact the game in as many ways as possible. I've never coached a kid that impact the game like Brandon. He leads the team in rebounding; he leads the team in assists and steals. He does so many things to help us win. A guy like that is invaluable."

Modesto Christian is banged up: Last season, a foot injury to Pearson forced coach Brice Fantazia to shake up his rotation. He moved scoring guard Darrian Grays to the point and inserted Kwaheri Rue, who is no longer with the program, into the starting lineup. Playing out of position, Grays never found his rhythm and finished with just five points.

This time around, the Crusaders may be in a similar situation, or maybe not. On Tuesday, Fantazia said it's too early to tell "who or who won't play."

Tsardsidse, a budding Division I talent, hasn't played since the final of the Holiday Hoop Classic, and transfer point guard Earv Knoxx, who started the MLK Invitational against Salesian, has missed the last two games with a knee injury. Williams sat out the win over Downey with a shoulder injury, and Satchell left at halftime with a deep bruise.

None of them have practiced this week.

"Nothing is worse than last year with no 'Dada' and Aaron for the season," Fantazia said, referring to Satchell (ineligible) and Aaron Murphy (knee), both of whom missed all of last season.

"We are fine. Everything now is getting prepared for playoffs. Still haven't played one game with our entire team, so I feel like we will peak at the right time."

Pressed into action: Beyer's new year run pales in comparison to Modesto Christian's decades-long feat, but for McKim, it's not about the wins. He's more concerned about the brand of basketball.

McKim said 6-foot-7 post Kris Fore has been more consistent at both ends of the floor and the juniors, namely James Tonge, McKay Bundy and Hayden Keller, have settled into the roles.

The biggest change, though? Speed. The Patriots have gone back to their roots, picking teams up full court, unnerving their opposition with the press. The result is a six-game winning streak.

"It's not about winning. It's great to win some games," McKim said, "but I think we're playing a better brand of basketball. We're playing at a higher level than we did a month ago. We're different now.

"It gives us confidence we can play with them, but we have to play a high, high level of basketball to get over the top against a team of that caliber."

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 1:18 PM with the headline "No team has beaten MC in league since 1996; 3 reasons why Beyer will do it."