Tarkanian: West Ranch Makes Statement!

FAB 50 No. 34 West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) stays unbeaten by defeating host and No. 22 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) to seize the 2022 Tarkanian Traditional in Las Vegas. West Ranch strikes to 12-0 and makes assertion as a reliable CIF Southern Part and regional open contender.

It’s at all times troublesome to take down a program equivalent to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on its residence court docket in an enormous occasion such because the Tarkanian Traditional. In spite of everything, the Gaels got here into the 2022 version having captured the occasion’s Platinum Division title 3 times up to now 4 entries. West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) entered the 16-team area after dropping within the Platinum Division first spherical final season to FAB 50 ranked Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas, Texas). This version of the Wildcats, nevertheless, had a lot larger expectations and a a lot better group.

The FAB 50’s present No. 34 ranked group made an announcement and stamped itself as a serious contender within the CIF Southern Part open division with a 67-62 victory over the host membership on Thursday night time at Bishop Gorman Excessive Faculty.

“It’s no secret, we need to be within the (CIFSS) open division,” West Ranch coach Jeff Bryant stated. “We’ve got to beat the Mater Dei’s and Notre Dame’s on the market. We’ve got aspirations to win at Damien.”

West Ranch (12-0) will go into The Traditional at Damien in Southern California (Dec. 27-30) unbeaten behind the play of Boise St.-bound 6-foot-7 2023 (senior) ahead Andrew Meadow, who was named match MVP after scoring 14 second half-points versus Bishop Gorman in a good recreation the host Gaels led 37-30 at halftime. Meadow made some robust inside baskets down the stretch, together with an offensive rebound put again after a Darrell Morris (5-10, 2024) area objective try with the shot clock operating down that gave West Ranch a 59-53 lead. Just a few moments later and with 2:40 remaining within the recreation, Morris hit a streaking Isaiah Fields to present West Ranch a 61-53 lead.

Gorman made one final run, developing with an inbound steal that led to a 3-pointer by 6-foot 2025 guard Nick Jefferson with 55 seconds remaining that lower the Gaels’ deficit to 62-60. With 19 seconds remaining, Meadow was fouled away from the ball after Gorman pressured a troublesome area objective try by 7-foot 2023 heart Jazz Gardner. Meadow canned each free throws to present West Ranch a four-point lead that was introduced again all the way down to a bucket after Gorman’s John “Juni” Mobley, a 6-foot-2 2024 (junior) dedicated to Ohio St., drove the size of the court docket with 11 seconds remaining.

Gorman rapidly fouled and West Ranch’s Jaqari Miles, a 6-foot-3 2023 guard, made one in all two free throws to make the rating 65-62. Mobley couldn’t get the 3-point try he was on the lookout for and needed to cross off to Jefferson, whose last-ditch 3-point try was lengthy. The carom was known as out of bounds on Bishop Gorman, and West Ranch’s James Evans, a 6-foot-7 2024 ahead, made each free throws to account for the ultimate margin.

Meadows completed with 18 factors and 7 rebounds, whereas Fields, West Ranch’s sixth man and an ultra-talented 6-foot-6 2023 wing, completed with 17 factors. Morris completed with six factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Miles completed with 13 factors, Gardner added 9 factors, seven rebounds and 4 blocks and Evans chipped in a single area objective and his clinching free throws.

“We’ve got a bunch of men which can be ignored, however we need to make an announcement,” stated Meadow, which averaged 17.3 ppg in West Ranch’s 4 victories. “Taking part in with Jazz has been a blessing this yr; he attracts a lot consideration and opens up issues for our wings and guards.”

Mobley led Gorman with 24 factors and averaged 23.0 ppg for the match. Keenan Bey, a 6-foot-7 2023 ahead, was Gorman’s second double-digit scorer versus West Ranch with 13 factors. Ryder Elisaldez, a 6-foot-2 2024 guard, was Gorman’s second all-tourney choice.

West Ranch superior to the title recreation with a 60-55 semifinal victory over Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in a recreation the Wildcats led wire-to-wire. West Ranch led by as many as 13 factors (25-12) within the first half and closed out properly on Mater Dei’s perimeter shooters, simply because the Wildcats’ defenders did on Mobley within the title recreation. Gardner and firm additionally held Mater Dei’s Montana-bound massive man Zach Davidson to 5-of-15 capturing and 10 factors. Davidson exploded for 31 factors and had 12 rebounds in Mater Dei’s 63-31 third place victory over FAB 50 No. 42 Oak Cliff Religion Household that was sealed by a driving, buzzer-beating lay-up by 6-foot-2 2024 Brady Karich.

Meadow completed with 22 factors and 10 rebounds versus Mater Dei, whereas Miles added 17 factors.

Bishop Gorman (6-2) superior to the title recreation for the sixth time in 10 years (the 2020 version was not performed due to COVID-19) with a 82-80 time beyond regulation victory over Religion Household, a group that took third place in final yr’s occasion. Religion Household is a gifted squad that felt it was adequate to win 4 video games at this yr’s occasion and it seemed good main 40-31 with 15:19 to go within the second half versus Gorman. That’s when Gaels went on a tear early within the half to go up 50-44 with 10:53 remaining within the recreation.

Religion Household adjusted and saved the sport shut behind the play of New Mexico-bound 6-8 2023 ahead Jaydn Toppin. On the finish of the sport, the Eagles went to Toppin to probably tie the sport. His area objective try was off, however 6-foot-5 2023 Peyton Gusters cleaned up the miss to tie the sport with 30 seconds to go. Neither group was in a position to get a clear look and the sport went into time beyond regulation.

Within the further interval, Religion Household took a 78-74 lead, however Mobley rapidly responded with a 30-foot 3-pointer to spark the Gaels. Gorman finally took a 82-78 lead, however Toppin saved the guests from Texas in vary with a lay-up. Within the final 1:30 of time beyond regulation, Religion Household had three essential turnovers that value them dearly when it was all stated and performed, together with off an inbounds play with 4 seconds remaining in time beyond regulation when a excessive publish cross by Toppin thrown inside to 6-foot-11 2024 Doryan Onwuchekwa that was harassed and delivered a bit too low for the massive man to deal with. Religion Household made 11-of-20 free throws within the two-point time beyond regulation loss.

Versus Religion Household, Mobley completed with 25 factors, together with 4 3-pointers, whereas Elisaldez contributed 16 factors on 6-of-7 capturing from the sphere. Toppin completed with 30 factors and 17 rebounds and the graceful 6-foot-8 lefty was a cinch choice for the all-tourney group, as New Mexico is getting themselves a matchup nightmare. Gusters additionally made the all-tournament group whereas 6-foot-2 2024 guard Isaac Williams additionally shined for coach Brandon Thomas‘ 14-2 membership.

Within the Nike Division (second strongest of the Tarkanian Traditional’s 9 boys divisions), Santa Margarita (Rancho S.M., Calif.) moved to 14-1 on the season by advantage of its 51-40 championship recreation victory over Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.). Northern Arizona-bound Rockwall Reynolds, a 6-foot-8 senior, was named division MVP after netting 20 factors. Cameron McNamee, a 6-foot-5 2024 prospect, was additionally named all-tourney. He scored 13 factors within the title recreation.

Santa Margarita led 17-5 early earlier than Crossroads (8-4) made a valiant comeback with higher shot choice. The Roadrunners really took the lead, 27-25, on a 3-pointer by 6-foot 2025 Coco Britt, however Santa Margarita made the massive perimeter pictures down the stretch. Pepperdine sure 6-foot-5 wing Nils Cooper and 6-foot-8 2023 ahead Isaiah Chappell have been named all-tourney for Crossroads.

Santa Margarita now heads to the Platinum Division of the The Traditional at Damien Vacation Match after Christmas, the place it’s going to open with battle-tested American Fork (Utah). Santa Margarita is on the identical aspect of the platinum bracket as No. 13 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) and reverse of West Ranch. As for the Wildcats, by capturing the Tark prime bracket, they’re the early line favourite to fulfill Harvard-Westlake in The Traditional at Damien championship recreation. The potential semifinal contest pits West Ranch versus No. 36 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) or Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), which went 2-2 within the Tarkanian Traditional prime division.

As for Bishop Gorman, it’s going to journey to the Les Schawb Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore., after Christmas, the place a possible semifinal matchup awaits with FAB 50 No. 6 Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas). Primarily based on the outcomes from across the nation for the reason that final FAB 50 replace on December 12, Duncanville is in good place to maneuver up within the rankings with a stable likelihood to repeat as FAB 50 champions.

Within the Tarkanian Traditional Spalding Division title recreation, Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.) upped its file to 14-0 by dispatching a troublesome Jones (Orlando, Fla.) squad, 90-55, as 2023 5-foot-11 level guard Issac Martinez was named division MVP for the second consecutive season. Martinez completed the title recreation with 24 factors, however it was actually a group effort. Clovis West used its trademark full court docket press to beat its 4 opponents by a median margin of 23 factors. The Golden Eagles now head to the Modesto Christian Vacation Traditional in Modesto, Calif., after the Christmas vacation.

2022 Tarkanian Platinum Division All-Match Crew

MVP: Andrew Meadow, West Ranch (Calif.) 6-7 F (Boise St.)

Jazz Gardner, West Ranch (Calif.) 7-1 2023 C
Jaqari Miles, West Ranch (Calif.) 6-3 2023 G
John “Juni” Mobley, Bishop Gorman (Nev.) 6-2 2024 G (Ohio St.)
Ryder Elisaldez, Bishop Gorman (Nev.) 6-2 2024 G
Zack Davison, Mater Dei (Calif.) 6-9 2023 F (Montana)
Owen Verna, Mater Dei (Calif.) 6-3 2025 G
Jaydn Toppin, Religion Household (Texas) 6-8 2023 F (New Mexico)
Peyton Gusters, Religion Household (Texas) 6-4 2023 G (Prairie View A & M)
Peyton Marshall, Kell (Ga.) 7-0 2024 C (Auburn)
LoLo Rudolph, St. Augustine (Calif.) 6-2 2024 G
Carl Cherenfant, Calvary Christian (Fla.) 6-5 2023 F (Memphis)
Ace Bucker, St. Ignatius (Ohio) 6-2 2024 G
Sebastian Mack, Coronado (Nev.) 6-3 2023 G (UCLA)
Dedan Thomas, Liberty (Nev.) 6-1 2024 G
Tylen Riley, Durango (Nev.) 6-3 2023 G (Cal Baptist)
Tyler Johnson, Oak Ridge (Fla.) 6-5 2024 F
Tyler Rolison, St. Bernard (Calif.) 6-0 2023 G
Jaydn Harris, Bishop O’Connell (Va.) 6-7 2024 F
Miles Gurske, Rainier Seaside (Wash.), 5-10 2023 G
Kaidon Rayfield, Putnam Metropolis West (Okla.) 6-8 2025 F

Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He will be reached at [email protected]. Don’t neglect to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores