Finally back at home after being away at the ‘Iolani Prep Classic and the Les Schwab Invitational, Sierra Canyon (18-1) picked up two big wins this past weekend.
On Friday night in a nationally televised game on ESPN, the Trailblazers dispatched the Mayfair Monsoons (10-6) in impressive fashion, 75-56. Sierra Canyon led 22-9 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back after that.
That advantage only ballooned to 44-22 at the half, and was capped off by a breakaway dunk from senior guard Scotty Pippen Jr. to beat the buzzer.
Scotty Pippen Jr. with 1⃣9⃣ at halftime! The last two just beat the clock and @ScottiePippen was impressed 👀@spippenjr @SCanyonSports pic.twitter.com/pCiMZSVikH
— Who's Next (@WhosNextHS) January 5, 2019
Pippen led Sierra Canyon with 22 points. Senior guard Cassius Stanley added 19 points and a few highlight reel dunks, and senior forward K.J. Martin had 12 points.
Mayfair’s Josh Christopher, who is one of the top players in the nation for the Class of 2020, was hounded by double and triple teams all game long. He did finish with 21 points and had a huge blocked shot on a dunk attempt by Sierra Canyon’s Amari Bailey.
Regardless of the major hype coming in to the game and being televised on ESPN, Martin said the Trailblazers bring that same energy into every game.
“Even if it’s not on TV, we just try to come out hard and get the W,” Martin told Mars Reel. “We got them out the game earlier and kept pushing throughout the game.”
That was certainly the case on Saturday night when the Trailblazers faced off against Rancho Solano Prep (6-11) from Arizona. They got off to a 10-0 start and led 39-27 at halftime.
Sierra Canyon ended up winning the game, 80-43. Martin had 23 points to lead the way. Pippen had 16 and Stanley added 13.
The Trailblazers will begin Gold Coast League play this week on the road against Viewpoint on Jan 11.
David Yapkowitz is a contributor for Mars Reel based in Southern California. You can follow him: @Dave_Yapkowitz
