Tarkanian Classic: San Diego report
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With the prep division winding down Friday, the high school division of the Tarkanian Classic got underway Friday in Las Vegas for the first time since 2019. I got into town Friday evening, but in time enough to catch two…
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Continue ReadingWith the prep division winding down Friday, the high school division of the Tarkanian Classic got underway Friday in Las Vegas for the first time since 2019.
I got into town Friday evening, but in time enough to catch two of the three San Diego teams playing in the event. Here are some observations from Day 1:
No. 1 Saints falls to Nevada Liberty
After taking a 33-32 lead into halftime. San Diego’s top ranked team, St. Augustine, fell to a strong Liberty team from Nevada 70-61 in first-round play of the Platinum Division.
The Patriots were led by St. Mary’s commit, 6-7 senior forward Joshua Jefferson, who scored a game-high 36 points (5 threes and several highlight dunks) and was dominant throughout. I’ve seen Jefferson several times over the years, and he’s always been super skilled, but it’s the improvement in his physique that has taken his game to a different level. Tonight, he looked like a kid that belongs in Top 100 conversations. The Gaels got a steal.
Liberty also got strong games from its back court of 2024 Dedan Thomas Jr. and Angelo Kambala (who has one of the best one-dribble sidestep shots I’ve every seen).
Saints were led by juniors Jurian Dixon Jurian Dixon 6'4" | SG St. Augustine | 2023 State #247 Nation CA-S and Jaden Matingou Jaden Matingou 6'3" | CG St. Augustine | 2023 State CA-S ; Dixon, a 6-4 wing (23 points), did most of his damage in the second half, while Matingou, a 6-3 combo guard scored 14 of his 21 points during the first stanza. Matingou was particularly impressive during the first-half, scoring from each level and showing some toughness and creativity finishing around the basket.
Orange Glen falls to Timpanogos 49-48
The Patriots trailed by 10 points at 43-33 with 3:26 remaining before 6-1 senior guard Justin Torres exploded in down the stretch, hitting four threes – including a crazy baseline bank shot with 5 seconds left to send the game to overtime tied at 45.
Neither team could get much going during the overtime period, but Jacob Norman’s go-ahead layup off the feed from senior guard Jaxon Vanchiere with 9 seconds remaining gave the Timberwolves the 49-48 win in overtime.
Timpanogos was led by 6-11 junior post Bron Roberts, who has a Stanford offer and interest from a dozen high-major programs. He is a skilled big who can step outside and shoot the three while also having sound footwork, touch and vision in the post.
But credit to the Patriots, who for the most part neutralized Timpanogos’ supporting cast and kept the game close enough for Torres’ late-game heroics. Torres finished with a game-high 19 points. His back court mate, 6-1 junior MJ Madore, gets better with every viewing and kept the Patriots in the game in the first half with 11 points.
In other news:
Balboa School, which played in the Sweet 16 Prep School Division, finished 4-0 this week in Las Vegas.
San Marcos lost its opening Nike Gold Division game to Bingham (UT) 62-58.