Erik Boal
ST. FRANCIS HIGH -- For the St. Francis High boys' basketball team,
the waiting game was finally over.
No more practices, no more annoyingly repetitious drills and no more
scrimmaging against the junior varsity.
And as a result, the Golden Knights made the wait all the more
worthwhile Saturday night, defeating British Columbia St. George's High
in their season-opener, 66-59, in a Pool C game in the 10th annual La
Canada Holiday Basketball Classic.
While other local teams like Crescenta Valley High have already played
11 games, St. Francis was forced to push its schedule back due to the
deep run that the Golden Knight football team made in the CIF Southern
Section Division III playoffs.
Coach John Jordan had seven of his 12 roster players competing on
either the varsity or junior varsity football teams, and one of his
non-football players -- Thomas Mason -- suffering from an ankle injury.
Nevertheless, Jordan had 12 individuals in place Saturday night at
home, led by senior guard Michael Jenkins.
The returning All-Mission League first-team selection scored a
game-high 28 points and added seven rebounds, seven assists and three
steals for the Golden Knights.
"I was thrilled with the effort, especially in the first quarter,"
Jordan said. "I was really surprised with the way we played in the first
half, especially against a very strong team like St. George's."
St. Francis got out to a 24-14 lead at the end of the first quarter,
sparked by a 10-of-14 shooting effort from the field. Brett Mitchell
scored 10 of his 13 points in the quarter on four-of-four shooting.
Jordan's squad increased the margin to 41-25 at halftime as Jenkins
tallied 11 of the Golden Knights' 17 second-quarter points.
St. Francis increased the lead to 19 three different times in the
fourth quarter, before St. George's (4-5) made a late run.
"We're not in shape yet and I think we got a little tired at the end,"
Jordan said. "Our rotations aren't down perfect yet and we had some good
shooters (like Mason) who didn't shoot that well. But we made baskets
when we had to."
John Sciarra, who hasn't played basketball in three years, scored two
points and had two rebounds off the bench for St. Francis.
St. George's 14 11 16 18 -- 59
St. Francis 24 17 17 8 -- 66
ST. GEORGE'S -- Smith 2, Jolly 2, Pyo 2, Jenkins 6, Hallaran 9,
Nicholson 6, MacDonald 10 and 8 rebounds, McDonald 21 and 10 rebounds,
McKeen 1.
* Three-pointers: McDonald 4, MacDonald.
ST. FRANCIS -- Gonzalez 4, Terrazone 7, Mason 4, Mitchell 13, Jenkins
28, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Sciarra 2, Miller 2, Davies 2, Trejo 4.
* Three-pointers: Jenkins 2, Terrazone 2, Mitchell.
