SAN FRANCISCO – Archbishop Mitty’s defense trapped Zion Sensley in the corner, the Archbishop Riordan forward unable to go toward the basket for a closer shot, or step backward to create space.
He had nowhere to go … except for sideways.
The uber-athletic 6-foot-8 senior jumped out of bounds, his body behind the backboard when he launched the contested 3-pointer.
Like almost every other shot in the first quarter of the 76-56 Riordan victory, that absurdly difficult attempt swished, one of six first-quarter triples for the Crusaders.
It took overtime to decide the first matchup between Mitty and Riordan. The rematch in San Francisco on Tuesday was over after eight minutes, with the hosts leading Mitty 24-4 when the first-quarter buzzer sounded.
“I think we made a huge statement,” Sensley, who scored a game-high 26, said. “This team (we just played) is a top team in NorCal, and they have a great coach and great players. We came out very prepared and our guys did it.”
SAN FRANCISCO – Zion Sensley hangs on the rim after throwing down a dunk in the first quarter. Archbishop Mitty played Archbishop Riordan in a high school basketball game at Archbishop Riordan High School on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
The win was monumental in more ways than just the margin of victory on the scoreboard. Riordan (18-4) is now 12-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League and can clinch the league championship with a win against Bellarmine on Friday. It was also the program’s first sweep of the San Jose program since 2002.
The Crusaders, blessed with a seemingly endless supply of bouncy college-sized forwards and confident shooters, have the kind of talent to make a run at section, regional and even state titles. Riordan has won nine in a row since faltering against the Bay Area’s No. 1 team Salesian on MLK Day.
“This was a big game for us, because it’s a chance for us to win a banner, but I looked at it like a normal game and just came prepared,” said Sensley, who also hit a 35-foot 3-pointer in the second quarter.
Sensley wasn’t the only one torching the Monarchs (16-6, 10-2) from deep. Sophomore Andrew Hilman also made three 3-pointers in the first quarter, some off the dribble.
When high-flying junior wing Jasir Rencher, who the Monarchs were sagging off to prevent the drive, pulled up and cashed in a triple, Monarch coach Tim Kennedy could only shake his head.
“With how deep the threes were, and some of them were very contested, you just have to tip your cap to that if that’s how you’re going to lose,” Kennedy said.
SAN FRANCISCO – Riordan forward Zion Sensley shoots, and makes, a 35-foot 3-pointer in the second quarter. Archbishop Mitty played Archbishop Riordan in a high school basketball game at Archbishop Riordan High School on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
It wasn’t all 3-pointers for Riordan, which led 46-19 at halftime and 62-38 after three quarters. Nes Emeneke, a transfer from Priory who didn’t become eligible till mid-January, helped neutralize Mitty’s interior attack by using his 6-foot-10 frame to block and alter shots at the rim.
“You’ve got to keep him away from the rim since he’s such a good rim protector,” Kennedy said. “Then you’ve got to hope that Sensley isn’t knocking down 50-footers with consistency.”
Emeneke enjoyed his share of rim-rattling dunks, as did reverse alley-oop artist Sensley, who wowed spectators and teammates by catching and finishing dunks with his back to the basket after the defense forced a turnover.
“Other teams have the benefit of having the same starting five every night,” Riordan coach Joe Curtin said. “Those teams are gonna be better early on, but I never really cared about that. I want to play our best ball in February and March.”
SAN FRANCISCO – Riordan center Nes Emeneke (23) shoots a hook shot over Mitty forward Gavin Ripp (10) in the third quarter. Archbishop Mitty played Archbishop Riordan played in a high school basketball game at Archbishop Riordan High School on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
Mitty, led by Caeden Hutcherson’s 17 points, made things somewhat interesting in the fourth quarter, getting the deficit down to 15 with four minutes to play.
The Monarchs stopped turning the ball over, something Kennedy said will be a key adjustment should the teams meet in CCS play, and got the Crusaders to give away a few possessions.
But Curtin called a timeout to stop the run, put Sensley back in the game, and saw the Saint Mary’s commit get his team a layup and a dunk to stop the run.
Before Riordan emptied its bench, Rencher used a clever move to slip past his defender, and then almost brought the roof down at Frida Kahlo Way with a vicious one-handed tomahawk jam.
It was a display of sublime skill and overwhelming athleticism, and perhaps a preview of what Riordan will show the rest of the state once postseason play starts next week.
“We’re feeling great, and our goal is state,” Sensley said, before adding. “but we’re taking every game one step at a time.”
SAN FRANCISCO – Riordan forward Jasir Rencher (4) avoids Mitty defenders on a layup attempt. Archbishop Mitty played Archbishop Riordan in a high school basketball game at Archbishop Riordan High School on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
