By Pete Borello

SFHS loses state title game by 1

Throughout the Northern California Division II boys basketball playoffs, none of St. Francis High’s opponents could overcome the Lancers’ relentless pressure defense and push-it-when-possible offense.

St. Francis finally met its match in last Friday’s state championship game.

Martin Luther King of Riverside, playing a similar style of basketball, eked out a 53-52 win at Sacramento’s Arco Arena.

“They made plays late in the third quarter and early in the fourth with defensive quickness and pressure,” St. Francis coach Steve Filios said. “At the end, we weren’t able to get the shots we got early on.”

The Lancers, who led by 11 points midway through the third quarter, ran out of gas against a team boasting a pair of 6-foot-5 guards and speed to burn.

“Their quickness and athletic ability did eventually wear us down a little bit,” Filios said. “Maybe not wear us down, but we did have to expend a lot of energy.”

Guard Marvin Lea’s three-pointer with 43 seconds left in the third ignited a 14-0 run for the Wolves (31-4).

St. Francis (25-9) finally ended its scoreless streak with 3:35 remaining in the game on a basket by John Montgomery that narrowed King’s lead to 48-46.

With 41 seconds left, St. Francis reclaimed the lead, 52-51, on a free throw by David Chiotti. The center, who had tied the game with an inside score on the Lancers’ previous possession, finished with 22 points.

Lea, who also scored 22, responded by draining a baseline jumper with 25 seconds to play that put King ahead for good.

The Lancers’ next possession ended in a turnover after point guard Hakeem Gilliard was whistled for a five-second violation for not advancing the ball.

“It was a tough call,” Filios said. “I’m sure the referee was trying to make the right call, but I respectfully disagree with how he officiated it.”

St. Francis got one last chance, getting the ball back with 1.9 seconds left. Montgomery caught the inbound pass, turned around and fired up a three-pointer from 26 feet that hit nothing but the backboard.

Guard Montgomery finished with 11 points, as did Gilliard.