Bishop Diego's Devon Poindexter goes up hard for the Cardinals on Tuesday night.
Elias Muñoz was Bishop's leading scorer with 21 in the Cardinals' CIF quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Elias Muñoz picked up an offensive rebound and knocked down an eight-foot fade-away to push Bishop Diego’s boys basketball team over the top on Tuesday, as the Cardinals survived visiting Shalhevet 64-62 in double overtime to reach Friday’s CIF Division VI-AA semifinals.
VIEW VIDEO OF MUNOZ’S WINNING SHOT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
Muñoz led the Cardinals in scoring with 21.
“I was praying to God, ‘let me get this rebound, please’,” Muñoz said. “I just went up and it went in.”
Noah Tack also was clutch for Bishop Diego, providing the Cardinals with game-tying baskets in regulation and overtime to keep the game alive. Tack posted 19 points and five rebounds.
Yossi Halpert led Shalhevet with 23 and Jojo Fallas poured in 22.
The Firehawks held leads in the fourth quarter and both overtime periods but couldn’t close the game out themselves.
“We got to get tougher down the stretch,” said Shalhevet first-year head coach Colin Jamerson, acknowledging that his team is young and returning mostly intact next season.
The Firehawks finish 16-6.
“We pretty much have this same team coming back next year,” he said. “I’m proud of them but it’s kind of tough to swallow right now when you had the game in your hands.”
Johnny Diaz glides in for a layup after a steal led to a breakaway.
Shalhevet looked like a good bet to take the CIF quarterfinal clash in the first overtime period as Halpert scored six of his 23 on two 3-pointers. Each one – both made with less than 90 seconds on the clock – gave the Firehawks a two-possession lead.
But each time the Cardinals quickly answered with baskets on the next possession to keep the game within reach. Bishop trailed 58-53 with forty seconds left in the first overtime before Tack scored two baskets and Paul Garcia one to pull the Cardinals even at 59-59.
In the second OT, Fallas connected for a 3-pointer on Shalhevet’s first possession to make it 62-59. The Firehawks failed to score again.
The Brickhouse crowd was a factor, willing on the home-team Cardinals.
“You can feel the floor like shaking, it’s pretty crazy,” Muñoz said.
Reece Moulton was big on the boards for the Cardinals, hauling down 12 for the team lead. His last rebound set up Muñoz’s winning shot by keeping a previous play alive for Bishop and drawing a foul. Moulton added 10 points for the double-double.
Bishop Diego will face either Wildwood or Orangewood Academy. Orangewood was the higher seed and home team.
“I think we can make it to the championship, even win the championship,” Muñoz said.
Wow. Bishop should have destroyed this team to night.
BTW, can someone answer why Bishop Diego is in 6AA?? Even the likes of Cate, Laguna Blanca, and Thatcher are in 5A. Did they under report enrollment or is it because they have been that bad for so many years the CIF felt sorry for them?
They need to start writing their “Thank-you” letters to the CIF for the nice gift. If they don’t win this division, then the CIF should move them to 8AA.
relax
Bitter much Refheckler2? Bishop has 295 students enrolled.
you mad?
Laguna is in 6AA as well. Check your facts.
Love those Bishop Boys! They played hard with determination and the heart of Champions Lets go Cardinal boys…..one game at a time+?
HATER did u wake up angry ? did some one do some thing to you today to get u so mad??? like what is u angry for
Wow, instead of answering the question you resort to name calling. Not very christian of you. No, I am not mad just curious. And since none of you could answer the question, I will! So, checking the facts and the reason why BD is in 6AA is because of enrollment and their past performance. So just like I thought,since they have been that bad the last couple years they get to move down. Getting back to the facts, if they do not win this division, then they should be moved to 8AA.