ANAHEIM – Los Altos was too big and too good for Canyon.
Led by 7-foot junior Jazz Gardner, who scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots, the Conquerors on Friday defeated Canyon 65-48 in a CIF Southern Section Division 2AA boys basketball quarterfinals playoff game.
Canyon guard Jaden Goodall, right, makes a move around Los Altos center Jazz Gardner, left, to put up a shot in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos center Jazz Gardner, left, beats Canyon guard Connor Leonard, right, to the rebound under the basket in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos guard John Corina reaches to pull down a rebound against Canyon in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon guard Connor Leonard, center, is double-teamed by Los Altos guard CJ Bellamy, left, and guard John Corina, right, in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon guard Jaden Goodall, center, tries to control a rebound between Los Altos forward Jerimiyah Smith, left, and guard John Corina, right, in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon guard Caleb Graham, left, loses control of the ball and Los Altos guard CJ Bellamy, left, takes the turnover in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos players Jordan Morales, CJ Bellamy, Jazz Gardner and Aaron Hernandez, from left, congratulate each other after winning the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs against Canyon in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos guard CJ Bellamy, center, powers his way past Canyon forward Tyler Howard, left, to the basket in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon guard Pasha Golestaneh, loses control of the ball in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs against Los Altos in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos center Jazz Gardner, center, tries to get out of a corner as Canyon guard Connor Leonard, right, looks to slap the ball away in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon guard Connor Leonard, left, tries to get around Los Altos center Jazz Gardner, right, to get to the basket in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos guard CJ Bellamy, right, drives around Canyon guard Jaden Goodall, center, and guard Connor Leonard, left, in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Altos guard CJ Bellamy, left, tangles with Canyon guard Connor Leonard, right, as he drives toward the basket in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinal basketball playoffs in Anaheim on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Conquerors (23-5) will at home against Village Christian (27-4) in the semifinals Tuesday as they continue their quest for their first CIF-SS boys basketball championship.
Gardner’s five blocked shots happened in the first quarter. That was enough to make some of Canyon’s players avoid shooting near the basket the rest of the game.
Canyon 6-3 freshman Brandon Benjamin made several shots inside of 3 feet, using the rim as a protection on some reverse layups as he scored a team-high 21 points.
But a couple of times Benjamin passed the ball when he would have attempted a shot against a different opponent.
“The big kid (Gardner) really changed the game on defense, more than he did on offense,” said Canyon coach Nate Harrison.
Los Altos 6-4 senior guard Aaron Hernandez scored 20 points, his season high.
“Credit to that kid,” Harrison said of Hernandez. “That kid really made a difference for them. He hit a lot of big shots.”
Senior guard CJ Bellamy scored 11 points for the Conquerors.
Canyon junior guard Tyler Howard scored nine points
The Comanches did not shoot well. They were 15 of 50 from the field, for 30 percent, and 5 of 20 on 3-pointers.
Canyon was 4 for 15 in the first quarter.
“We thought we would get Brandon outside and cause some problems,” Harrison said, “But we just didn’t shoot it well early.”
Los Altos led 15-9 at the end of the first quarter. Canyon’s inaccuracy continued in the second quarter — 3 of 8 shooting — and Los Altos had a 34-22 lead at halftime.
Hernandez made two 3s in the third quarter to lead Los Altos to a 48-34 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
The Conquerors quickly expanded their lead to 20 points early in the final quarter.
Benjamin scored nine points as the Comanches started a comeback. But they would get no closer than 12 points.
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Canyon, the Crestview League co-champion with Foothill, will have a fine corps of returnees next season, including Benjamin and Howard, sophomore twins Jaden and Joshua Goodall and junior Connor Leonard.
By advancing to the semifinals, Los Altos qualified for the CIF Southern California Regional.
