By Pete Borello

OT win over Hayward sends Lancers to state

Few teams reach the state championship game with records that include as many as 10 losses.

St. Francis High, however, isn’t like most teams.

“We played a difficult schedule with a lot of ups and downs,” coach Steve Filios said of his Lancers, who took fourth in the West Catholic Athletic League. “We’ve learned a lot about each other and continue to grow.”

The Lancers (22-10) grew up a lot last week by winning three Northern California Division II playoff games - two in overtime - to reach Friday’s state title game.

St. Francis faces Southern California champion Dominguez (30-4) of Compton at 8 p.m. at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

“They’re a very good team,” Filios said of Dominguez, which St. Francis beat in the 1995 championship game. “They’re big and have great athletes and some darn good basketball players. No one will pick us to win.”

That’s nothing new for the Lancers, who knocked off the top two seeds in the NorCal playoffs.

In Saturday’s NorCal final at Arco, fourth-seeded St. Francis pulled off a 72-63 overtime upset of No. 1 Hayward (29-4).

With his team trailing by two points with 10 seconds left in regulation, Lancers point guard Hakeem Gilliard drove coast to coast for a reverse layup to force overtime.

“He’s a money player,” Filios said.

But Gilliard, who finished with 18 points and seven assists, wasn’t through.

Moments after St. Francis controlled the opening tip of overtime, the junior nailed a three-pointer to set the tempo.

The Lancers led the rest of the way, outscoring Hayward 13-4. St. Francis hit all six of its free throws in the extra period.

Center David Chiotti scored four of his game-high 21 points in overtime. The junior also had a game-best 15 rebounds.

Power forward Troy Bienemann also came up big for St. Francis, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Hakeem’s older brother, senior shooting guard Jermel Gilliard, added 10 points.

In Thursday’s semifinals, St. Francis edged host Rocklin 72-69 in overtime.

The Lancers trailed No. 2 Rocklin (32-4) by four points midway through the extra period, then the Gilliard brothers took over.

Hakeem hit a three-pointer with 2:14 remaining to pull St. Francis within 68-67. With 47 seconds left, Jermel made the game-winning shot on a short leaner that put the Lancers up 71-69.

St. Francis appeared to have the game in hand during regulation, building a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

But the Thunder, spurred on by a boisterous crowd, went on a 14-2 run to end the quarter. Rocklin’s Dane Gibson’s sank two free throws with 1.6 seconds left to force overtime.

Five Lancers finished with double-digit points: Bienemann (19), Chiotti (15), Danny Ackman (13), Jermel Gilliard (12) and Hakeem Gilliard (11).

The Lancers had an easier time in the March 6 quarterfinals, winning 88-61 at home over No. 6 Foothill (27-4) of Pleasanton.

The Lancers led only 38-34 at halftime, then went on a 30-3 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. St. Francis made 13 of its 16 field goal attempts in the period.

Jermel Gilliard led the Lancers’ third-quarter surge by scoring 12 of his 22 points.

Chiotti also finished with 22 points for St. Francis, along with 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Hakeem Gilliard added 15 points and 10 assists and Ackman came off the bench to score 13 points.