Bishop Diego ran into a big and athletic Bell-Jeff team and was knocked out of the first round of the CIF Division 5AA basketball playoffs, 78-56, on Friday night at the Brick House.
Bishop Diego’s Caleb Richey sinks a mid-range shot in the second quarter against Bell-Jeff. Richey scored 31 points in the 78-56 loss. (James Crosby photo)
Speedy guard Caleb Richey scored 31 points and Thomas Lash battled for 16 points for the Cardinals, but Bell Jeff was too strong inside with its physical twin towers of 6-5sophomore Abid Oses and 6-5 junior Malcolm Regisford, who scored 26 and 11 points, respectively. They also clogged the middle, making it tough for Richey to score on his hard drives to the hoop.
Fifteen of Richey?s points came from the free-throw line.
Bell Jeff also had potent perimetergame. Guard Will Morales tossed in 17 points and Giovanni Gabb added eight.
?That team was strong,? Bishop coach Dean Prophet said. ?We struggled all year long in our league when we played other teams that had good big guys. That was one thing we had trouble defending.?
Bishop was down by just four (20-16) after the first period, but Bell-Jeff?s big men took over the game in the second quarter. They combined for 22 of the team?s 24 points, helping the Guards open up a 44-32 lead.
Bell-Jeff put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 15-6.
Bishop Diego ends the year with a record of 14-13.
