Damien wins first state boys basketball title for coach Mike LeDuc

The stress was on. 5 consecutive occasions Northern California groups bought to have a good time state championship basketball victories on Friday evening at Golden 1 Middle. For the ultimate sport of the evening, La Verne Damien was counted on to rescue Southern California’s pleasure and repute. The Spartans got here by way of.

With Kaleb Smith, Spivey Phrase and RJ Smith main the way in which, Damien defeated Clovis North 65-57 to win the state Division I championship and ship the primary state title for coach Mike LeDuc, who’s in his forty second yr. LeDuc’s Glendora crew performed for a state title in 1989. Regardless that Tracy Murray scored 64 factors, his crew misplaced.

Damien (32-4) didn’t let the No. 13-seeded Broncos (22-12) get any concepts that an upset was attainable. Phrase scored 9 factors early on because the Spartans attacked the basket with focus and confidence.

Kaleb Smith completed with 23 factors, Phrase had 17 and RJ Smith 15.

“There’s sweat in my eyes,” Phrase joked in an emotional second after the sport. “A variety of work was put in. I can’t even clarify it. On an NBA court docket, it’s loopy.”

What a yr it’s been for LeDuc. He celebrated his 1,000th profession victory and No. 1,018 means his first state title.

“It feels nice,” LeDuc mentioned. “It’s not about me. It’s about these guys.”

Clovis West acquired 25 factors from sophomore level guard Connor Amundsen, the son of Clovis North coach Tony Amundsen.

Damien led by as many as 20 factors.