Holiday Classic Tip-Off – What We Learned

<p>With the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic set to begin this morning, we're taking one final look back at Monday's tip-off event. What were some of the key takeaways from the event for all the teams involved?</p> <h3>San Diego establishing itself as one of the favorites in CIF Division 2</h3> <p>The Division 2 playoffs in San Diego are often the second-most competitive behind the Open Division. It's early, we admit, but the Cavers' convincing win over Carlsbad immediately puts a target on them the rest of the way. Granted, this Carlsbad team is missing several key pieces. But before Monday, the Lancers only losses were to a highly regarded Sherman Oaks Notre Dame team and perennial power Bishop Montgomery, a game they could have won. </p> <p>Again, however, it's early. The Cavers still must navigate a very tough Senator's Division at the Holiday Classic, face several tough nonleague challenges in January and February and then face off against four other D2 opponents in the Eastern League. But Monday's performance should give other Division 2 opponents pause. </p> <h3>Carlsbad will look different in a month</h3> <p>The Lancers have played the entire season without four key pieces, but got one back for Monday's matchup - 6-10 C Kai Burdick, a transfer from El Camino. But beyond that, 6-6 Caleb Nelson, who is arguably the Lancers second-best player, as well as 6-5 F Kasparas Kasradze and 6-4 SG Brady Canfield - transfers from Sage Creek - are also sitting out. Kasradze gives the team an interior toughness that it doesn't currently possess, while Nelson is one of the premier face-up four players in San Diego. </p> <p>Keyed by Jailen Nelson, whose unsigned status becomes more and more maddening with each game, the Lancers will have a chance to compete with Torrey Pines for the Avo West title and should be an Open Division team by the playoffs. </p> <h3>Saints live up to No. 1 ranking</h3> <p>There were questions about whether St. Augustine's guard play and lack of overall speed would be issues against teams that thrived in those areas. The Saints, for now, have put those questions to rest in a convincing win over Foothills Christian. The Saints simply wore down the smaller Knights over the first three quarters before breaking the game open in the fourth to win by 11. And St. Augustine also had the best player on the floor in 6-7 Chibuzo Agbo, who had as dominant an individual performance as we've seen in SD this year. </p> <p>For the time being, the Saints are in the pole position in CIF's Open Division pecking order. </p> <h3>Foothills Christian will still be Open Division team...</h3> <p>But this doesn't mean that we won't possibly see this matchup again, possibly as early as this week or in the Open Division playoffs. The Knights didn't get a vintage performance from Yale-bound PG Yassine Gharram and 2020 W Jalai O'Keith, yet still were able to hang around for three quarters due to its role players stepping up, namely 2021 W Derrien Carter-Hollinger and 2022 G Jaden LeBel. </p> <p>It would be easy to see the two team's running the game back and it being a much closer - or different - outcome if Gharram and O'Keith play at the level they have all season. </p> <h3>...As will Torrey Pines</h3> <p>The Falcons lost to their down-the-street opponent (the first time the teams has played in 6 years???), Cathedral Catholic, in the closest game of the evening. Again, you have to wonder in a rematch does Stanford-bound F Brandon Angel shoot 5-16 from the field and does the team's second-leading scorer on the year, 2021 G Nick Herrmann, struggle offensively? Despite the tough shooting night, Torrey Pines repelled each Cathedral run with one of its own, getting nearly a triple double from talented junior PG Chris Howell and good moments from role guys Mathias Clotfelter (a vastly improved 6-4 junior W) and Cameron Klein (ditto, but 6-5).  </p> <p>The Falcons cast of role players beyond its big three came into the season with no varsity experience (most were members of the Falcons 28-0 JV team from a season ago). But they are rapidly gaining that experience and improving with each game. This team will be very different in the new year. </p> <h3>Cathedral wears you down</h3> <p>But Cathedral is the No. 2 team in the San Diego Union-Tribune media poll for a reason. One of the biggest reasons is its physicality. It's starting front line of 6-5 W Beon Riley, 6-8 F Obinna Anyanwu and 6-9 C Dillon Wilhite is big and strong, and win their matchups by sheer attrition. Add to the fact that they start a shooting guard, Thomas Notarainni, who checks in at 6-4, 200 pounds and a scrappy point guard in Alex Wade, and it's easy to see how a team can cry "uncle" after four quarters. </p> <p>Moving forward, Cathedral will have it's depth tested in league against rival Saints -- should be the two biggest games on the calendar -- and will need one of its key reserves to step up in those moments. The most likely candidate is 6-3 junior G Dominic Muncey, a streaky shooter who can heat up in a hurry. </p>