Corona del Sol falls to Sierra Canyon

Tempe Corona del Sol saved Arizona from embarrassment on the national boys basketball stage Saturday night, but a 65-64 loss to one of the best California teams, Sierra Canyon, is no consolation prize for a team that feels it should beat everybody, no matter their prestige.

Two missed one-and-ones by the three-time defending state champions in the final 28 seconds opened the door for Sierra Canyon to steal the victory in the showcase game of the national Hoophall West before a packed crowd at Scottsdale Chaparral's gym.

"I can't get down on our players' effort," coach Sam Duane Jr., said. "We had our chances to win it."

Sophomore point guard Alex Barcello, an 82 percent free-throw shooter who had a tremendous game, couldn't get the front end of a one-and-one to fall with 28 seconds and Corona del Sol (12-1) leading 64-62.

Sophomore forward Cody Riley made 1 of 2 free throws with 19 seconds left.

Freshman center Marvin Bagley III, who had 20 points and five rebounds, rebounded Riley's miss, and was fouled with 15 seconds left.

But Bagley, who played toe-to-toe with one of the country's top players, swatting one of Riley's shots, missed the front end of his one-and-one.

Sierra Canyon (10-1) wasted no time getting the ball to the Riley, who swept in for a basket with seven seconds left.

Barcello quickly took the inbounds and dribbled length of the court, trying to draw a foul, before losing control of the ball under the basket as time expired.

"I was thinking to go to the basket and draw the foul," said Barcello, who had 23 points and five assists. "But the ref didn't call it. We have to move on. We can't put our heads down."

This was the second year in a row national teams played in the Hoophall West in the Valley, but the first time local teams got to take the stage with them.

Phoenix Pinnacle got blown out by Las Vegas Findlay Prep 72-48, followed by Phoenix Shadow Mountain getting dominated by Maryland-power DeMatha 94-58.

But Corona del Sol showed tremendous toughness from the outset against a Sierra Canyon team that beat DeMatha by five points on Friday.

Barcello scored 11 gritty points in the opening quarter.

Even though Corona del Sol shot 56.5 percent in the first half, it trailed 37-29, mainly because Sierra Canyon made 5 of 11 3-pointers and guard Devearl Ramsey had nine points to go with Riley's 11.

Riley needed 12 shots to make four baskets, while the 6-foot-10 Bagley hit all four of his shots, including a reverse alley-oop dunk on a nice feed from Dane Kuiper, in the first half.

Corona del Sol made a big run late in the third quarter and early in the final quarter, taking a 57-51 lead on Bagley's follow shot with 6:35 left.

Corona del Sol went through a three-minute stretch without scoring.

But Kuiper squared up for a 3 with a minute to play to give his team a 64-62 lead.

"He's a great player," Bagley (20 points on 9 of 10 shooting) said about Riley, one of the nation's top sophomores, who had 23 points and five rebounds. "He plays hard. That was tough competition.

"We just have to finish out the game, make free throws. If we do that, we win this game."