Modesto Christian boys basketball advances to Open Division Regional Final with win over Clovis West
Despite its youth — it starts just one senior and none of its rotation players had played meaningful varsity playoff minutes before this season — the Modesto Christian boys basketball team is battle tested.
After a season that’s featured two games against one of Nevada’s top teams, a trip to the East Coast and a Sac-Joaquin Section title and their first-round blowout of Archbishop Mitty, the Crusaders were tested on the road in the Regional Semifinals of the CIF State Open Division Championships against Clovis West of Fresno (31-2).
Modesto Christian (29-5) had a 19-point lead cut to just two, but held on for a 48-44 win to advance to Tuesday’s CIF State Open Division Regional Finals.
“The atmosphere was an amazing high school atmosphere,” said Crusaders coach Brice Fantazia. “The fans love Clovis West basketball, so it really was one of those ‘us against the world’ type games. Those games are always sweet on the road, especially in the Open Division.”
The Crusaders opened up an early 23-8 second-quarter lead and led 34-15 at halftime.
Clovis West is just one game removed from coming back to beat Sheldon after being down 24-8 at the end of the first quarter, and the Golden Eagles tried their hardest to make it two straight come-from-behind wins.
They cut the lead to 39-30 by the end of the third and got it as close as 41-43 in the fourth. Thanks to a timely three from Jamari Phillips, who finished with a team-high 16 points and defensive stops, the Crusaders were able to sneak out of Fresno with a win.
“I think we’re playing as good of defense as has ever been played in Modesto Christian history,” Fantazia said. “We held Sheldon to 42 points, we held (Archbishop) Mitty to 55. Clovis West to 44. We’re just playing great defense. We missed four layups in the third quarter … but our defense just kept us locked in.”
Clovis West’s best scorer, junior Issac Martinez, scored just two points. “Bj (Davis) held Isaac Martinez, who was probably one of the best scorers in Northern California, to two points tonight,” Fantazia said. “He was huge.”
Preseason No. 1 vs No. 2
When the Northern California preseason basketball rankings came out, it would have been hard to find a list that didn’t have Campolindo and Modesto Christian as the two top teams.
Looks like they were right. The two programs will play Tuesday, March 8, in the NorCal Regional Championship, with the winner advancing to the State Championship at Golden 1 Center on March 12.
The Cougars enter the regional final as the top overall seed in the Open Division, riding a 22-game win streak and with a North Coast Section championship after beating De La Salle, 51-50. Fantazia calls them a “senior heavy” team that “doesn’t beat themselves.”
Only one player has tasted the playoffs for the Open Division third-seed Crusaders. Senior point guard Alex Argandar was a freshman when Modesto Christian played Salesian in the 2019 CIF State Open Division Regional Semifinals.
“He was on the team (but) he didn’t get in,” Fantazia said. “He’s kind of been around the block so he’s been the one leading (on the court). Even though he wasn’t on the court, he got to see Michael Pearson and some of those other guys. So he’s been leading the younger guys.”
With at least one more game on Tuesday, Fantazia feels his team is hitting its stride at the right time.
“Oh, absolutely. It’s not even close,” Fantazia said on whether this is the best his team has played all year. “On both sides of the ball right now, guys are trusting each other on defense and trusting each other on offense.”
