CYPRESS — With freshman standout Kaiden Bailey leading the way, Crean Lutheran’s boys basketball team set an up-tempo pace for all four quarters of its victory over Cypress 76-70 on Tuesday night in an Empire League game at Cypress High School.
Crean Lutheran (14-5, 3-0) built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and although the Centurions (10-11, 2-1) made some spirited runs to pull close on several occasions, the Saints always built the lead back up.
Crean Lutheran’s Dylan Gomez (14) goes in for a layup against Michael Wright of Cypress (12) in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Michael Wright of Cypress (12) reaches for the rebound after Evan Yang (5) of Crean Lutheran’s misses the shot in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crean Lutheran’s Kaiden Bailey (4) goes for a layup against Jonah Kim (44) of Cypress in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crean Lutheran’s Evan Yang (5) shoots over the defense of Kason White (1) of Cypress in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crean Lutheran’s Kaiden Bailey (4) slips past Jonas Hanson (34) of Cypress in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crean Lutheran’s Kaiden Bailey (4) shoots over the defense of Mickey Kadowaki (11) and Jonah Kim (44) of Cypress in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jonah Kim (44) of Cypress passes over the defense of Crean Lutheran’s Braeden Davidson (0) and Kaiden Bailey (4) in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ryan Gov (2) of Cypress moves around the defense of Crean Lutheran’s Dylan Gomez (14) in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kason White (1) of Cypress goes in for a layup in game against Crean Lutheran during an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jonah Kim (44) of Cypress looks to pass over the defense of Crean Lutheran’s Braeden Davidson (0) and Kenneth Bailey (13) in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jonah Kim (44) of Cypress gets a hand on the ball as Crean Lutheran’s Kaiden Bailey (4) moves to the basket in an Empire League boys basketball game at Cypress High School in Cypress on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Now the Saints have sole possession of first place in the Empire League.
“We play a fun brand of basketball, when we’re moving it and sharing it,” Saints coach Nate Klitzing said. “We can hit open shots when we spread everybody out.”
Bailey, who finished with 26 points, and Cypress forward Michael Wright both came out shooting in a contest that went into high gear from the opening tip. Both players scored 11 points in the quarter.
Sophomore Dylan Gomez scored all of his 15 points in the second and third quarters for the Saints, giving them a great second option.
The Saints trailed by a point after the first quarter, but opened the second with a 14-2 run to take a 34-23 lead.
Crean Lutheran maintained a double-digit lead into the third quarter when a basket by Wright got the Centurions within nine.
Bailey’s basket got the lead back up to 11 and that is mostly how it played out through the remainder of the game.
A pair of baskets from Bailey and 3-pointer from Jonah Kim got the Centurions to within five in the fourth quarter. Cypress had a chance to cut the lead to three on back-to-back possessions but couldn’t hit a shot.
Then a steal from Riley Conerty and a pair of free throws from Patrick Miranda put the Saints back up by seven with two minutes remaining.
“We could never get over that hump,” Cypress coach Derek Mitchell said. “We had no answer for him (Bailey).”
Garden Grove League still turning out fast-paced, competitive boys basketball games
Even with seven league games remaining, the victory Tuesday was a big one since the Saints, the league champions the past two seasons, and Centurions are the likely top two contenders for the league title.
“It’s early but it’s so big in the landscape of the Empire League,” Klitzing said.
The Saints opened league play with a 52-45 victory over Tustin, the other contender in the league.
