Watch: Sierra Canyon pulls off miracle win with 13-0 late run, buzzer-beater

Sierra Canyone used a 13-0 run at the end of the game to keep its championship hopes alive.

Sierra Canyon is the glamour high school when it comes to hoops. The Trailblazers added a miracle chapter to their burgeoning legacy Tuesday.

They unleashed a 13-0 run that was capped by Ziaire Williams’ buzzer-beater for a spine-tingling, 63-61 victory over Etiwanda to advance to the CIF State Open Division title game.

Check it out via Tarek Fattal of the LA Daily News:

Sierra Canyon has an 18-game postseason winning streak spanning the last three seasons but it appeared in jeopardy before the amazing run.

Per the Daily News:

Etiwanda held a 61-50 lead with 2:43 left in the game when the Trailblazers (30-4) turned on a full-court press that the Eagles couldn’t handle. A mixture of steals and Etiwanda mishaps helped Sierra Canyon make quick baskets to erase the deficit.

“It all happened so fast,” Etiwanda senior Jaylen Clark said. “Honestly, I looked up and saw the score and the time – I though we were headed to Sacramento.”

Brandon Boston Jr. hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 61-61. Etiwanda (30-4) used a full shot clock on the ensuing possession to waste time and take the lead, but Brantly Stevenson was forced into a deep 3-pointer that was off the mark. Williams skied for the rebound to eventually set up his own heroics after a timeout.

“That was the biggest rebound of my career,” Williams said.

Not everyone was happy after the victory. Dwyane Wade said he would not go to the team’s championship game because he is unhappy with the playing time his son is getting with the Trailblazers.

Hoopfest: UNC’s Thanksgiving loss to Michigan ruined Caleb Love’s holiday

Caleb Love said when his North Carolina Tar Heels lose he’s as mad as if he were on the team this year.

DUNCANVILLE, Texas – Caleb Love is the last guy on the planet you want to watch a college basketball game with on TV, specifically when his North Carolina Tar Heels are playing.

Love, a point guard at Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Missouri), committed to North Carolina in October, which immediately transformed him from fan to family.

ALL-USA: 19-20 ALL-USA Preseason Boys Basketball Team

“It just went to another level when I committed,” said Love, who is ranked No 24 in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25. “It’s a family in Chapel Hill so when I’m watching now I feel like I’m on the court with them.”

That made for a dismal Thanksgiving, according to Love, who as watched North Carolina fell 73-64 to Michigan in the Battle for Atlantis.

“That messed up my Thanksgiving to be honest,” Love said. “I just wanted to be to myself for a little bit; I hate when we lose. I might as well have been on the floor with them. It affects me like that.”

Things didn’t get any easier Friday at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, Love and the Cadets fell to Kimball (Dallas) 75-67 in their season opener.

“Seeing Carolina lose just makes me want to get out there and take it out on the next team,” said Love, who scored 31 points in the loss. “Those are my brothers so of course it bothers me. I go all out with my high school team since I can’t help them on the court until next year.”

RELATED: Chosen 25 Basketball Rankings

Love is, however, helping the Tar Heels with their recruitment of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California) wing Ziaire Williams, ranked No. 8 in the Chosen 25.

“I hit him every week, just seeing where he’s at with everything,” Love said. “I don’t pressure him or anything, I just checking in mostly, but he knows I want him with us. He’s here now so I’m definitely gonna talk to him this weekend. I feel like we’ve got a 50 percent chance to get him. Those are good odds.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Seventeen Super 25 teams to be featured in the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase

GEICO ESPN High School Showcase will feature 17 Super 25 teams and multiple Chosen 25 stars this season.

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Seventeen of the 25 teams ranked in USA Today’s Super 25 Boys Basketball Rankings will be featured this season in the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase.

In all 34 games will be available across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and digitally on ESPN3.

“When you combine the abundance of nationally ranked teams and the nation’s most elite prospects, this year’s schedule is our biggest and best to date,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN national recruiting director.

RELATED: Day one of the Early Signing Period

The TV games will kickoff on Dec. 5 when No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, California) takes on No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) on ESPN2.

The Crew features elite guard Nimari Burnett, a Texas Tech signee who is ranked No. 15 overall in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25, and Jalen Green, who is ranked No. 3 overall, while the Bruins feature a handful of Chosen 25 players, including junior forward Michael Foster, who is ranked No. 6, and Keon Edwards, who is ranked No. 19.

PRESEASON BASKETBALL COVERAGE:

Super 25 Boys Rankings | ALL-USA Boys | ALL-USA Girls

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California), ranked No. 8, will make 15 appearances across the different platforms this season.

The Trailblazers boast Chosen 25 star shooting guard B.J. Boston, a Ketucky signee who is ranked No. 14 and Ziaire Williams, who is ranked No. 9. Also, Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, and Zaire Wade, son of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade, suit up for Sierra Canyon.

Checkout the full slate of games below.

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Thu, Nov 21 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.)at Montgomery HS (Calif.) ESPN3
Fri, Nov 22 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Saint Augustine (Calif.) ESPN3
Sat, Nov 23 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) ESPN3
Thu, Dec 5 9 p.m. No. 5 Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs. No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) ESPN2
Sat, Dec 7 7 p.m. No. 16 Mater Dei (Calif.) vs. Perry (Ariz.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 8:30 p.m. Christ the King (N.Y.) vs. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 10 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Millenium (Ariz.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 11:30 p.m. Hamilton Heights (Tenn.) at No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) ESPN3
Thu, Dec 12 8 p.m. No. 10 DeMatha (Md.) at No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) ESPNU
Sat, Dec 14 8:30 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. St. Vincent & St. Mary (Ohio) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 3 7 p.m. Park Center (Minn.) at Minnehaha Acadamy (Minn.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 3 9 p.m. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) at No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) ESPN2
Fri, Jan 4 8 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at No. 20 Minnehaha Academy (Minn.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 10 9 p.m. No. 7 Huntington Prep (W.Va.) at No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) ESPN2
Fri, Jan 11 TBD No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) at No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 3 p.m. La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. Gonzaga (D.C.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 4:30 p.m. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) vs. Camden (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 6 p.m. No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 8 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Dominican (Wis.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 12:30 p.m. Orangeville Prep (Canada) vs. Brewster Adcademy (N.H.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 2:15 p.m. Whitney Young (Ill.) vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 4 p.m. No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) vs. Sunrise Christian (Kan.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 5:30 p.m. No. 6 Prolific Prep (Calif.) at vs. La Lumiere (Ind.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 7:30 p.m. No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) ESPN
Sun, Jan 20 11 a.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 12 Paul VI (Va.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 1 p.m. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) vs. No. 10 DeMatha (Md.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 3 p.m. No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) vs. No. 11 Oak Hill Academy (Va.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 5 p.m. No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 6 McEachern (Ga.) ESPNU
Thu, Jan 24 11 p.m. Coronado (Nev.) at No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) ESPNU
Mon, Jan 28 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Campbell Hall (Calif.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 31 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Brentwood School (Calif.) ESPN3
Mon, Feb 4 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Paraclete HS (Calif.) ESPN3
Wed, Feb 6 5:30 p.m. No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) at Christ the King (N.Y.) ESPNU
Wed, Feb 6 7:30 p.m. Saint John Vianney (N.J.) vs. Christ the King (N.Y.) Girls TBD
Thu, Feb 7 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Gil St. Benard’s (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Feb 8 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 9 Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) ESPN3
Fri, Feb 8 TBD Huntington Prep vs. The Patrick School TBD

 

Thanksgiving Hoopfest moving to American Airlines Center

The Thanksgiving Hoopfest will give high school players a chance to play on an NBA court.

Prolific Prep (Napa, California) point guard Nimari Burnett is the last player on the roster who needs extra motivation to get up for games.

“I’m just always ready to compete,” said Burnett, a Texas Tech signee.

Still, come Nov. 30 when he and the Crew lace ‘em up for the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas, he’ll have a little built-in motivation.

RELATED: Super 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

To accommodate the massive number of fans unable to attend the Hoopfest due to the showcase selling out within the first hour tickets went on sale, Hoopfest founder Glenn Smith has decided to move the venue on the second day to American Airlines Center, the home of the Dallas Mavericks.

Games will remain at Duncanville (Texas) High School on Nov. 29 and for the morning session on Nov. 30.

That night, games will tip at AAC, beginning with Prolific Prep (Napa, California), ranked No. 5 overall in the USA Today Super 25, against St. Mark’s School (Dallas) at 5 p.m. The Hoopfest will provide a comp ticket for every ticket purchased for Saturday’s games at Duncanville.

“I’ve never played on an NBA court before so I’m hype,” said Burnett, who is ranked No. 15 overall in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25. “We’re all ready to get out there and get that experience.”

RELATED: Day one of the Early Signing Period

Prolific Prep is one of three Super 25 competing in the Hoopfest; No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California) and No. 22 Duncanville (Texas) will also participate. The Hoopfest made our list for the top 16 high school hoops events of the year.

“My dream is to play in the NBA, and to know that I’ll be able to play on an NBA court in high school is like a dream come true,” Burnett said. “We go hard in every game, but I know we’ll be going extra hard in this one.”

AAC schedule for Nov. 16:

5 p.m: (Boys) Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs St. Marks School (Texas)

6:30 p.m: (Girls) Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Duncanville (Texas)

8 p.m: (Boys) Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Duncanville (Texas)

9:30 p.m: (Boys) Yates (Houston) vs. Montverde (Fla.) Academy

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY