Live updates from today's Division V state championship boys basketball game between St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda and St. Bernard of Playa Del Ray will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m.
comes into the game winners of eight-straight and defeated University of San Francisco 61-43 in the Northern California championship game last week at Folsom High School. The Pilots (26-9) are led by Brendan Kean (18 ppg) and Jacari Whifield (13 ppg).
St. Bernard lost to Montclair Prep in the section playoffs, but bounced back to roll through the Sourthern California playoffs. The Vikings (26-8) avenged their loss to Montclair and then defeated Sierra Canyon in the final 61-59. Brandon Randolph (18.5 ppg) and Thurman Thomas (15.7)ppg) are the leading scorers.
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Starting Lineups:
St. Joes — Evander Wood, Brendane Keane, Jacari Whitfield, Dominic Lippi, Gemeny Givens.
St. Bernard — Brandon Randolph, Usoma Mbelu, Daniel Cordova, Brandon Morrison, Thurman Thomas.
6:07: Gemeny Givens hits a three for St. Joes to put the pilots up. SJND 3-2.
5:21: Morrison answers with a three for StB, but Givens with a quick two on the other end to tie it up. TIE 5-5
4:18: Gant with a nice inside bucket to put StB up, but Whitefield answers with a three to put SJND back up. SJND 8-7.
3:31: After a pair of free throws from SB's Cordoba, Whitefield hit another three for SJND. SJND 11-9
2:19: Nick Lacy showed good athletism getting to the rack for SJND, but he's fould. Made 1 of 2 free throws. SJND 12-9
0:45: Thurman Thomas hit a three for SB to tie it up and neither team scored in the final moments of the first quarter.
END OF 1: St. Joseph Notre Dame 12, St. Bernard 12
5:30: Slow going in the opening moments of the 2nd, but Whitfield showed NBA range with a three for SJND. SJND 17-14
4:09: Nick Lacy with a big 3 in the corner for SJND extends the Pilots' lead to 20-16.
3:54: Thomas with a 2 to get SB back within 2 and the Vikings block Keane down low on the other end.
306: They trade baskets and Keane gets underneath for a two. The Northern Colorado commit has four points. SJND 22-20
SJND coach Don Lippi calls for a timeout with 1:24 left in the half. St. Joseph comes out of the timeout and feeds Keane down low. He gets two and St. Joes lead 26-22.
18.3: Thomas hits 1 of 2 free throws for SB. ... Whitfield fires early and misses. SB's Randolph goes coast to coast with 4.4 seconds left and his a running three at the buzzer.
HALFTIME — St. Joseph Notre Dame 28, St. Bernard 28
Points — SJND: Whitfield 9, Keane 8, Givens 7, Lacy 4. SB — Randolph 10, Thomas 8, Gant 4, Cordoba 2, Mbelu 2, Pepperes.
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Second half
6:21: Keane gets inside to put SJND up 30-28.
5:41: Lippi with a three in the corner. Good start for the Pilots as they now lead 33-28.
5:06: After a bucket, SB calls for a timeout to setup a 1-3-1 press. It works. They force a turnover right away. SJND 33-30
3:51: Gant with a nice baseline J to get the Vikings back to within one. A Whitfield air ball follows and SB has a chance to take the lead. Time out SJND. SJND 33-32
3:06: It'll be interesting to see thate stats after this half. Neither team seems to be shooting as well. SJND 35-32.
1:21: SB got two back right away, SJND steps out of bounds and the Vikings take the lead. SB 36-35
Whitfield launches an NBA range airball with 2 seconds left (SB fans let him hear it), but this time SB's three at the buzzer is no good (from about halfcourt).
END OF THIRD — St. Bernard 36, St. Joseph 35
7:00: Traded buckets to start the fourth quarter. SB 38-37
5:46: St Joes takes a brief lead, but an and-one on the other end from Gant puts the Vikings back on top ... waiting for the free throw after a time out. SB 40-39
5:16: Gant missed the free throw. Keane gets fouled on the other end. Missed the first. Missed the second.
4:35: Whitfield hits a big 3. SJND 42-40
Timeout SJND. Still 42-40. 3:08 left.
Turnover follows the timeout. Coach Lippi isn't happy.
2:17: SB tied is up . 42-42.
1:00: Whitfield 3 puts SJND up 45-42.
35.2: Cordoba fouled on drive to basket, makes both FTs. SJND now up by just one, St. Bernard calls time.
25.5: Givens basket after nifty coast-to-coast passing job by Whitfield and Keane puts SJND up 47-44.
7.4: St Bernard fouling to stay alive, down to 6.4, Whitfield fouled on inbounds with 2.2 to go. Going to the line.
1.7: Whitfield misses the first on a one-and-one. St. Bernard has a chance to send it to OT now, but little time to do it.
0.0: Randolph desperation shot appeared to leave hands after final buzzer, hits rim...SJND are STATE CHAMPIONS for CIF Division 5.
Final score: St. Joseph Notre Dame 47, St. Bernard 44
