In a wide-open Platinum Division, the bracket’s top-ranked crew, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), went down within the first spherical to Las Vegas’ greatest crew, Arbor View, 52-50. Two of three native Vegas groups advance as does FAB 50 ranked Alta (Sandy, Utah).
The prevailing considering coming into the eleventh annual Tarkanian Traditional was the occasion’s predominant draw, the Platinum Division bracket, was a wide-open affair. As many as 10 or maybe 12 groups needed to really feel that they had an opportunity to win the bracket coming in and on queue, there was an upset by the second recreation of the highest division. Arbor View (Las Vegas, Nev.) took on Bishop O’Conell (Arlington, Va.) and competed valiantly with a crew that got here in as the very best ranked membership within the newest FAB 50 National Team Rankings and was the de facto prime seed. The Aggies stored in vary after which made sufficient key performs on the finish to tug out the 52-50 victory.
Arbor View (5-2) held a one level lead (51-50) after O’Connell’s Bryson Tucker hit a 12-foot baseline jumper with 40 seconds remaining. O’Connell (5-2) did not rating on its subsequent offensive alternative and waited till 7.2 seconds remaining to foul Arbor View’s Maxiumus Romero. He made one free throw, then the Knights acquired a break when there was an Arbor View lane violation on the second try. Tucker then took it the size of the ground for a slashing lay-up and the ball rolled across the rim…and rolled off. The additional rest room bowl roll prevented any potential tip-in as Arbor View superior to play St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.) in Tuesday’s second spherical.
Arbor View had 4 gamers in double figures with San Diego St.-bound ahead Pharoah Compton, arguably Nevada’s prime senior and 6-foot-3 2024 guard DeMarion Yap every netting 13 factors. Yap, the youthful brother of Fresno St. guard Donovan Yap, hit two massive 3-pointers late to assist within the upset bid.
Bishop O’Connell, which was coming off a one-point loss to Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), was damage by the absence of sophomore guard Quincy Wadley, a terrific nationwide Prime 25 prospect within the 2026 class who’s again within the D.M.V. getting a leg harm recognized. His absence was felt towards a crew that’s hoping to provide the native followers a crew to get behind aside from host Bishop Gorman.
St. Augustine, which got here in as a prime three crew from San Diego County however on paper a shade under its prior two groups who participated within the tourney, superior with a 52-41 victory over Mater Lakes (Miami, Fla.), which took its third lack of the season. Sophomore guard Jaden Bailes had a giant recreation with six 3-pointers and 25 factors for St. Augustine (8-1). Bailes is likely one of the higher 2026 prospects within the tourney and is one to trace for D1 faculty coaches.
The Vegas locals may have had three groups to get behind within the winner’s bracket as Conorado (Henderson, Nev.) battled with state-ranked St. Pius-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.) in a back-and-forth affair. The SoCal membership, which got here in 4-1, lastly put it collectively down the stretch after a gradual begin and acquired the important thing bucket it wanted with 36 seconds remaining. That is when San Francisco-bound wing Tyrone Riley made a contested baseline layup to provide St. Pius-St. Matthias a 4 level lead in its eventual 67-62 victory.
Riley completed with 24 factors after being held scoreless for the primary 12 minutes of the sport. Extremely-regarded 6-foot-8 2025 energy ahead Doug Langford added 19 factors. He is monitoring properly as a mid-major plus/high-major minus and Langford’s manufacturing will likely be key within the quarterfinal matchup with Alta’s 6-foot-8 Utah-bound Jaxon Johnson. The Sandy, Utah program entered the match at No. 44 within the FAB 50 and moved to 8-0 with its first-round victory.
In the very best first spherical matchup in a battle of unbeatens, Alta took down 10-0 Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.). Alta took management of the sport within the third interval, outscoring the Golden Eagles, 16-8, as Clovis West netted solely 4 factors within the first six minutes of the quarter after trailing 37-30 at halftime. Main the way in which in Alta’s 74-63 win with a 20-point efficiency was 5-foot-11 2024 guard Ace Reiser, a composed and artful shot-maker who can deal with defensive stress and wreak havoc on each side of the ball. Johnson and 5-foot-8 2026 Sprint Reiser, a blur with the ball and Ace’s brother, each completed with 15 factors.
Within the reverse bracket, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) superior to the quarterfinals to face host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) with a 74-69 victory over battle-tested Campbell Corridor (North Hollywood, Calif.). After a gradual begin Desert Mountain (7-1), particularly 6-foot-3 freshman (2027) Javon Bardwell, got here alive within the second half, as he netted 26 of his 28 factors within the closing 16 minutes after not taking part in within the first interval and scoring two factors within the second. Desert Mountain, which owns a victory over highly-regarded Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), additionally acquired 24 factors from 6-foot-3 sophomore level guard Kaden Home earlier than he fouled out. Home, one of the thrilling gamers within the match, might want to quarterback his crew to a decrease turnover rely to get it previous the Gaels.
Bishop Gorman (6-0) was the second of the three Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation (NIAA) golf equipment to advance, taking down a recreation Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) membership, 69-66. With the sport within the steadiness, 2025 guard Nick Jefferson made two key buckets down the stretch and Grid-Hoop stud Jett Washington, a 6-foot-5 sophomore wing who doubles as a security and broad receiver for the legendary nationwide championship Gaels’ soccer crew, had a key steal and end to provide Bishop Gorman the cushion it wanted. Jefferson completed with 25 factors, 5 rebounds, seven assists and 4 steals. Washington, the nephew of the late Kobe Bryant, added 19 factors and 4 steals. Sixteen of these factors got here within the essential fourth interval.
Florida Excessive College Athletic Affiliation faculties had been 0-2 within the first spherical till Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) acquired the FHSAA off the schneid with its 55-46 victory over Centennial (Corona, Calif.), the occasion champion in 2019. Centennial (7-5) led 22-5, however the Eagles stormed again and caught Centennial on the finish of the third interval, 38-38, earlier than pulling away within the fourth interval, because the Huskies had hassle maintaining Calvary Christian out of the paint. Centennial was additionally damage when UCLA-bound wing Eric Freeny (9 factors) fouled out with 5:32 remaining within the recreation.
Calvary Christian (6-1) was led to victory by 6-foot-7 2024 John Roland Jr. with 16 factors. Junior 6-foot-7 ahead Shon Abaev additionally made a second half influence and completed with 10 factors. The Eagles even have a budding star in freshman (2027) level guard Cayden Daughtry, a 5-foot-11 dynamo who can deal with the ball like a seasoned veteran, has a candy capturing contact and may create separation for the 3-ball whereas being beneath management. Daughtry had 16 factors, together with three 3-pointers.
Calvary Christian will tackle Branson (Ross, Calif.), which defeated St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.), 71-57, in a recreation that was a bit extra aggressive than the ultimate rating indicated. It was the primary lack of the season for the Vikings.
The difference-maker for Branson (5-1) was Illinois-bound energy guard Jase Butler, who made well timed outdoors photographs and in addition punished the Vikings inside. The 6-foot-4 senior completed with 25 factors, together with 5 3-pointers with 4 coming after intermission.
Tarkanian Traditional Platinum Division Quarterfinals (12/19, PST)
St. Augustine (Calif.) vs. Arbor View (Nev.), 4:30 pm
Alta (Utah) vs. St. Pius (Calif.), 6 pm
Desert Mountain (Ariz.) vs. Bishop Gorman (Nev.), 7:30 pm
Calvary Christian (Fla.) vs. The Branson College (Calif.), 9 pm
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Remember to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
