St Bernard's Boys Basketball Team Dispatches Middle College 60-40

The last time St Bernard’s went to state was three years ago. That was when they went undefeated in league, won the Division 5AA title, and then advanced into state, losing to eventual state champions Village Christian of Sun Valley in the second round. This year, the Vikings find themselves in the state tournament again, but this time after winning the division 5A title despite going winless in league, but still receiving a playoff bid.

Bernard’s (16-17) took the first step in the right direction, dispatching of LA City Division 5 champions Middle College High School 60-40 Wednesday night in the Southern California Sectionals first round.

Julian Ross led the Vikings with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Terrence Powell and Adam Amanuel chipped in eight points apiece. Nathan Moore added seven points and four rebounds as Bernard’s went wire-to-wire to the win.

It was the Vikings who started out strong, scoring the first five points of the game. Bernard Wolfe finally put the Cougars on the board, the only points until less than two minutes to go in the first quarter. Middle College would finally find the basket, going on a 10-3 run to close the gap to 18-12 to end the quarter.

Spencer Reed scored a game-high 17 points and four rebounds for the Cougars who ended its season at 25-6. Wolf had eight points and three rebounds while Patric Rollins added six points and four rebounds.

Middle College was able to get as close as eight points to trail 31-23 at the half, but that would be as close as they would get as the Vikings would put the game away in the second half. Reed scored seven of the 11 points in the quarter.

St Bernard’s open the second half the way they did the game, going on a 6-0 run after stealing the inbounds pass on successive possessions. Middle College could not figure out the Vikings’ trapping defense, coughing up the ball three times in the opening minutes in the third quarter and 10 times total.

St Bernard’s travel to Calabasas to take on Viewpoint, the Division 5AA runners up Saturday evening.  Viewpoint advanced by virtue of its 67-19 victory over Kearn Valley. Tipoff is at 6pm.

ST BERNARD (60) - Julian Ross (15), Terrence Powell (8), Adam Amanuel (8), Nathan Moore(7), Robert Fuller (6), Charles Willis (4), Olajuwon Prudholme (3), Kylan Mann (3), Cameron Mack (2), Damian Landy (2), Richard Mabry (1), Tyler Stoudemire (1)

MIDDLE COLLEGE (40) – Spencer Reed (17), Bernard Wolfe (8), Patric Rollins (6), James Mitchell (4), Kylyn Dirks (3), Aramis Anderson (2)