ANAHEIM – Canyon might be ready for the CIF boys basketball playoffs.
The Comanches walloped Servite 71-29 on Friday in a CIF Southern Section Division 2AA first-round game at Canyon High.
Second-seeded Canyon (24-4) will play the winner of Saturday’s M.L. King-Shadow Hills game in the second round Tuesday. If King wins, Canyon plays at King; if Shadow Hills wins, Canyon is the home team.
Canyon’s Brandon Benjamin (24) blocks the shot of Servite’s Davyn Roberts (21) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Brandon Benjamin (24) blocks the shot of Servite’s Leo Hannan (23) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s head coach Nate Harrison directs his players during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Jaden Goodall (3) is fouled during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Joshua Goodall (13) blocks the shot and fouls Servite’s Al-amin Juma (1) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s cheering section react to a big defensive play at the end of the first half during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Servite’s Leo Hannan (23) puts a hard foul on Canyon’s Connor Leonard (2) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Brandon Benjamin (24) shoots over the defense of Servite’s Leo Hannan (23) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Servite’s cheering section voice their thoughts during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Tyler Howard (15) takes the rebound in front of Servite’s Davyn Roberts (21) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Connor Leonard (2) guards Servite’s Aaron Montez (13) as he bring the ball up court during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Canyon’s Connor Leonard (2) knocks the ball away from Servite’s Tyler Small (3) during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Servite’s Al-amin Juma (1) pulls down a rebound during the first round game of the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball playoffs between Servite High and Canyon High on Friday, February 11 at Canyon High School in Anaheim. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Servite finished the season at 12-12. The Friars were 0-10 in the always-tough Trinity League, which had all six of its teams qualify for the playoffs, but were 12-1 in nonleague games. Servite reached the CIF-SS quarterfinals in Division 2A last season.
Canyon 6-3 freshman Brandon Benjamin continued to impress. He made 11 of 12 shots to finish with 25 points, almost scoring as many points as Servite. Benjamin, who went into the game averaging 18 points, missed a 3-pointer while his 11 made shots were within 3 feet of the basket.
“He may not be just the best freshman in Orange County,” said Canyon coach Nate Harrison, “he may be the best player in Orange County. He’s not flashy, but he’s the best player on the floor every day.”
Junior guard Tyler Small paced Servite with nine points.
Benjamin made two power moves for close bank shots early to put Canyon ahead 4-2 to start a 12-0 run that led to an 18-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the quarter, Servite was 4 of 11 from the field with six turnovers.
Canyon outscored Servite 14-5 in the second quarter and 28-9 in the third to take a 60-23 lead into the fourth quarter.
Canyon sophomore Joshua Goodall’s 3-pointer early in the fourth made it 65-25 for the 40-point lead required to invoke a running clock for the remainder of the quarter.
Canyon is ranked No. 10 in the Orange County top 25. Servite is No. 21.
Harrison, who has coached Canyon to three CIF-SS championships, was miffed that Servite was the Comanches’ first-round opponent.
Related Articles
CIF-SS girls basketball playoffs: OC schedule for the games Saturday, Feb. 12
CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs: OC schedule for the games Friday, Feb. 11
Crean Lutheran girls basketball apologizes for its 92-13 victory against Pacifica
Final CIF-SS boys basketball polls 2021-22 season
Final CIF-SS girls basketball polls 2021-22 season
“We felt like the draw wasn’t great, getting a Trinity school as the second seed,” Harrison said.
But Harrison was confident that Canyon would play well enough, and with spirit, to beat Servite
“I knew if we played hard we would win,” Harrison said. “I’m proud of the kids. They did a great job.”
