Central Catholic unable to top Vanden in boys Division III final
The Central Catholic High boys basketball team played hard even when it didn’t have to.
When Malachi Miller fouled out on a controversial call with 5 minutes, 49 seconds in the game and the Vikings were awarded four free throws after an intentional foul and a technical with 2:34, no one would have been surprised if they mailed it in and allowed Vanden to extend a five-point lead to much more.
But they didn’t quit.
The Raiders (22-10) battled back to make it a one-point game with two minutes left before ultimately falling to Takai Emerson-Hardy and the Vikings (19-12) for the second straight season, 57-53.
“I know we didn’t win, but I’m as proud of them as any team that’s won, just for the showing that they had.” said coach Mike Wilson.
Many people thought Central Catholic shouldn’t even be in the position to compete for a section championship.
The sixth-seeded Raiders were supposed to win just their first-round home game, nothing more. They thought otherwise.
“We weren’t supposed to win when we went up to Placer, we were just supposed to get past the first round,” senior guard Julian Kuper said. “We weren’t supposed to win against Burbank. So this team takes things personal and we’ll come together as a team.”
The Raiders beat Wood of Vacaville at home, then traveled to Auburn to play Placer, the third-ranked team in Division III. They won by 12. They hosted seventh-seed Burbank at home earlier in the week and won on a last-second layup. This team is resilient.
Wilson and Central Catholic have played in the last four section championship games. This year’s team had just two players from the 2020 playoff run, Kuper and Jaelen Nichols, but they didn’t play. Kuper, now a starter, joined Miller and Tyler Wentworth as leading scorers with 12 points each.
“It was everything I expected and more,” Kuper said of playing on a bigger stage. “Last time, I was admiring from the side as a sophomore, but I feel like I didn’t shy away from the moment. It was a good atmosphere. It was obviously different playing in an NBA arena, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Vanden was the first seed for a reason. Led by Emerson-Hardy’s 19 points and nine rebounds, the Vikings answered any run the Raiders were able to put together. And as one of the only members of both championship teams, it was almost poetic that Emerson-Hardy was the one to ice the game with a free throw to put Vanden ahead by four with 3.2 seconds left.
“He’s a good ball player, he’s gonna be playing at the next level,” said Wilson. If I was their coach, that’s who I’d want to have (at the line).”
The Raiders made it interesting throughout, taking leads in the second half before the division’s top team iced the game. But they set a foundation for what they expect going into the state tournament that starts Tuesday.
“We came out and competed the entire game,” Wilson said. “They’re a good team, and they’ve got big kids that are aggressive and athletic and we didn’t back away one time. I’m so proud of them for that.
“I think we opened some eyes on what we’re capable of. I think there’s some positive things to be said by fans and other coaches or teams.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2022 at 9:27 AM.
