LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his son Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his son Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his brother Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his brother Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
LeBron James, right along with his son Bronny James, left, and family watch Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco steals the ball from Gavin Hightower #0 of Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bryce James #5 of Sierra Canyon fouls Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco in the second half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Gavin Dean-Moss, left, of St. John Bosco celebrates with teammates after spring against Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Elzie Harrington #3 of St. John Bosco drives to the basket against Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Gavin Dean-Moss #1 of St. John Bosco shoots over Maximo Adams #25 of Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Gavin Dean-Moss #1 of St. John Bosco reacts after spring against Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco blocks the shot by Maximo Adams #25 of Sierra Canyon in the second half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bryce James #5 of Sierra Canyon tries to block the incoming pass by Max Ellis #5 of St. John Bosco in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco looses the ball against Jayden Alexander #22 of Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Chris Komin #2 of St. John Bosco blocks the shot by Jayden Alexander #22 of Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco looses the ball against Jayden Alexander #22 of Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bryce James #5 of Sierra Canyon fouls Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco in the second half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Chris Komin #2 of St. John Bosco blocks the shot by Jayden Alexander #22 of Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Gavin Dean-Moss #1 of St. John Bosco reacts after spring against Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bryce Cofield #12 of Sierra Canyon drives to the basket against Max Ellis #5 of St. John Bosco in the second half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Bryce James #5 of Sierra Canyon reacts after a foul against Brandon McCoy Jr (not pictured) of St. John Bosco in the second half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Christian Collins #11 of St. John Bosco drives to the basket against Michael Baba #13 of Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco blocks the shot by Maximo Adams #25 of Sierra Canyon in the second half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Brandon McCoy Jr #0 of St. John Bosco looks the all against Bryce Cofield #12 of Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Christian Collins #11 of St. John Bosco slam dunk against Sierra Canyon late in the fourth quarter of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Head coach Matt Dunn of St. John Bosco reacts against Sierra Canyon in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Head coach Andre Chevalier of Sierra Canyon reacts against St. John Bosco in the first half of a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Show Caption1 of 27LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his son Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
ExpandBELLFLOWER — With LeBron and Bronny James in attendance amongst a sold-out crowd, St. John Bosco basketball’s Brandon McCoy Jr., Christian Collins and Elzie Harrington combined for 44 points to lead the Braves to a 60-55 win at home over Sierra Canyon in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs Tuesday night.
As Bosco clung to a 52-51 lead, Harrington drove the lane and dished an assist to Collins for an energetic baseline dunk, which put Bosco up 54-51 with 1:01 to go.
“I feel like it got us really hype and it gave us confidence that we were going to win this game,” Collins said. “We knew from the start we were going to win this game but that really sealed it all.”
McCoy, a junior guard, had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Collins, a junior forward, had 15 points and eight rebounds. Harrington, a senior guard who is committed to USC, added 13 points and four rebounds.
“We played a great team but we’re also a great team so we pulled it out in the end,” McCoy said.
The Braves improved to 25-5 overall and 1-1 in the Open Division, which kept them in contention to win Pool B and make the Open Division championship game on March 1. It was a bounce back win after Friday’s 77-75 loss at home to Redondo Union to begin Open Division play.
“It took a lot (Tuesday night),” St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn said. “I thought our fight and our competitiveness was really good. We didn’t necessarily play great but I thought the guys really just fought. I was so proud of their effort and toughness, that was a great win.”
Sierra Canyon (22-6, 2-1 Open Division) was led by junior forward Maximo Adams (Serra transfer) with 16 points (3 3s) and six rebounds. Iona-committed senior guard Gavin Hightower (Windward transfer) added 10 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Bryce James (Arizona commit) had five points.
Sierra Canyon led 17-16 at the end of the first quarter. James was called for a technical foul while defending McCoy with 1:45 left in the first half. McCoy made one of two free throws to cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 28-26. Bosco retained possesion and senior guard Chris Komin, who finished with seven points, drained a 3-pointer, which put the Braves up 29-28.
The game was tied at 31 at halftime. Adams had eight points in the first half. Collins scored all seven of his first half points in the second quarter.
“I just knew if I kept playing hard it was going to come eventually so I stayed the course,” Collins said.
McCoy’s back-to-back dunks put Bosco up 35-31 early in the third quarter.
“I think it gave us a lot of energy,” McCoy explained. “When we’re hype, I think nobody is stopping us in the country, so me or anybody bringing a dunk, energy, that just means a lot to our team.”
Harrington’s mid-range jumper made it 37-31.
However, the Adams-led Trailblazers battled back and his dunk late in the third cut Bosco’s lead to 43-41 heading into the fourth quarter. The Braves stepped up their defensive intensity in the second half and held Sierra Canyon to a game-low 10 points in the third quarter.
Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the fourth. Adams’ 3-pointer put Sierra Canyon up 44-43 early in the fourth. Harrington’s layup put Bosco back up 45-44. Sierra Canyon senior guard Jayden Alexander, who finished with eight points, made two free throws, which put the Trailblazers back up 46-45 with 5:06 left in the game.
McCoy’s spinning bank shot put Bosco up 47-46. Sierra Canyon freshman guard Jordan Mize’s layup gave his team a 48-47 advantage. Harrington responded with another layup to retake a 49-48 lead. Komin was fouled and made both free throws to go up 51-48 with 2:40 to go.
The 6-foot-8 Adams drained another 3-pointer, his third of the game, which tied it at 51.
McCoy banked in one of two free throws to go up 52-51 with two minutes remaining.
Collins’ dunk Bosco up 54-51. Komin blocked Alexander’s layup to preserve Bosco’s 54-51 lead with 36.7 seconds to go.
However, Bosco turned the ball over on an inbounds pass with 35.4 to go. Harrington made another big play, this time stealing the ball. McCoy was fouled and made one of two free throws to extended Bosco’s advantage to 55-51 with 29.3 to go. However, Collins collected McCoy’s miss with a big offensive rebound. Harrington was fouled and made one of two free throws to go up 56-51.
Hightower’s layup cut it to 56-53. Harrington was fouled with 11.4 to go. The USC commit made both free throws to push Bosco’s lead to 58-53.
Adams missed a 3-pointer. Collins was fouled with 4.1 seconds to go and he made both free throws. Bosco led 60-53.
Hightower made a layup as time expired as Bosco’s secured a 60-55 victory.
“That’s what we’re built for,” McCoy said. “We pulled it out.”
The victory avenged Bosco’s 72-67 loss to Sierra Canyon in the Open Division playoffs last season.
No. 6 seed Sierra Canyon will play at No. 2 seed Roosevelt (29-2, 2-0 Open Division) Friday.
No. 3 seed Bosco will host No. 10 seed Heritage Christian (25-5, 0-2 Open Division) Friday. The Braves beat Heritage Christian 52-43 in a nonleague game at The Classic at Damien tournament on Dec. 27.
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