Bell-Jeff Upset Saints In OT!

BURBANK - It was a cold and rainy night when the visiting St. Anthony Saints made their way to Bellarmine- Jefferson high school for the second meeting with their crosstown rivals, the Bell-Jeff Guards.

Little did they know, they would return home with a 57-50 overtime loss.

The Saints came to the game with lofty goals and something to prove.

The boys, planned to cap off a great season, going undefeated in league and locking up the Santa Fe league championship. The girls, wanted to prove to the defending state champion Lady Guards that they have arrived and deserve to be ranked with the best.

Prior to this season, the two schools had agreed to schedule two meetings featuring all levels of both the boys and girls teams so, according to  Bell-Jeff head coach Bryan Camacho, “the families of both the boys and girls would have a chance to see each other play”.

In their first meeting, St. Anthony was victorious defeating both the JV boys along with a 68-55 win over the boys varsity team. The only bright spot for Bell-Jeff were wins from the boys freshmen and an easy 16 point victory from the defending state champion Lady Guards.

On Friday night, all that changed.

The Guards had goals of their own and stepped on the floor focused and ready for the challenge. Beating the Santa Fe league favorite would secure a playoff spot and move them one step closer to their ultimate desire, a championship.

Fueled by Camacho’s mantra, “we will not lose another game”, they proceeded to go to work.

The Guards went on the attack, using a small lineup to build as much as an eight point lead over St. Anthony in the first quarter. A lead they continued to hold for most of the second before a couple of quick baskets from senior Raul Isiordia and freshman Tony Warwick closed the gap to three at the half.

The game remained close in the second half as the Guards went inside to sophomore Andre Frazier with juniors Kevin Yuenyongsakul and Chris Issakhanian hitting from the outside.

The Saints countered with seniors Emmanuel Andino and Gerald Jackson then tied the game with :17 seconds on a clutch three pointer from Isiordia, before Bell-Jeff, unable to get a shot off in the waning seconds, saw the game slip into overtime.

Disappointed but not discouraged, coach Camacho refocused his team and sent them back into battle.

St. Anthony came out with momentum, but their shots just could not find the basket.

The Guards shots were not falling either and they could only manage 1 point from Frazier at the free throw line after Gerald Jackson fouled out.

Chris Issakhanian hit a big three pointer to put put the Guards up by four with less than two minuets left in OT, then, Bell-Jeff turned to their defense. On the Saints next inbound play, sophomore Elijah Reed stole the ball and passed it to Issakhanian for a layup.

Scoreless thus far, the Saints got a basket from Raul Isiordia making the score 54-50. But, Emmanuel Andino picked up his fifth foul as the Guards were advancing sending Issakhanian to the line where he made one.

With only 20 seconds left in the game, Reed stole the inbound pass again, got fouled and hit both free throws, extending the lead to seven which put the game out of reach.

Bell-Jeff’s defensive pressure held the Saints to just two points in overtime for a final score of 57-50.

With the win,  Guards (14-5) go to 3-2 in league and one step closer to their goal of a championship. They face the (1-9) St. Genevieve Valiants on Wednesday.

The Saints (17-5) suffer their first league loss and will face the Salesian Mustangs (11-12) (3-2 in league) on Wednesday. A loss by the Saints would give Bell-Jeff a share of the Santa Fe league championship.

The Lady Guards (19-5) capped off the evening with a 72-55 victory over the Lady Saints (15-9) to go 5-0 in league and on their way to a third straight Santa Cruz league championship.

Story by - Eric “Rico” Reed/photos courtesy of Richard Napier