No. 13 Sierra Canyon storms back to top No. 3 La Lumiere, 53-48


Davearl Ramsey poured in a tourney-high 25 points to help the Trailblazers knock off No. 3 La Lumiere, 53-48. CJ Caraang | SL

Sierra Canyon overcame a 12-point deficit and turned back La Lumiere, 53-48, to capture the Iolani Classic boys' basketball championship Tuesday night at Iolani gym.

Devearl Ramsey scored 25 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), No. 13 in USA Today's preseason national rankings, over No. 3 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), which was led by Brian Bowen's 16 points.

"It's a great win for the school," Sierra Canyon coach Ty Nichols said. "And it's a testament to these kids. They just didn't quit, they didn't give up and they kept working hard."

Ramsey had 10 points, including two 3-pointers, in the decisive fourth period.

"It's a great feeling," Ramsey said. "We were very stagnant at the beginning, we couldn't hit shots, but we're a tough team. We battled through that. It's just another test for us and we passed."

The Lakers (12-1) led 38-26 late in the third period only the see the Trailblazers (9-1) chip away, using a 10-3 run early in the fourth period to tie the game at 42 with 4:37 left on Remy Martin's 3-pointer – his first points of the game. On La Lumiere's ensuing possession, Ramsey rebounded a missed shot and took the ball to the other end, scoring to put the Trailblazers ahead, 44-42, 30 seconds later. The Lakers' Bowen returned the favor, scoring on a dribble drive to tie the game at 44 with 3:44 left.

The Lakers had an opportunity to regain the lead with Jeremiah Tilmon at the free throw line with 3:28 left, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one that was rebounded by Ira Lee. The transition led to Ramsey's third 3-pointer of the game to put Sierra Canyon up 47-44 with 3:15 left. The Trailblazers would not relinquish that lead en route to the victory.

"They stepped it up," La Lumiere coach Shane Heirman said of Sierra Canyon. "To win a championship, you have to make winning plays and they made more than us. That comes down to effort, intensity, passion and they out-toughed us."

Sierra Canyon might have been out-rebounded, 33-28, for the game, but the Trailblazers took over in the fourth period, frustrating the longer-armed and taller Lakers on the offensive and defensive boards.

"Their length is really tough to deal with," Nichols said "They are so long and so skilled that it takes you awhile to adjust to it. It took us four quarters. Over the course of the game, we got used to it and learned how to handle (their length)."

Lee led the way with 11 rebounds before fouling out with 2:18 left in the game.

"Halftime, we went into the locker room and said, ‘attack,'" Lee said. "We had to attack and that's what we did in the second half."464

"Ira's a monster," Nichols said. "He's a workhorse. He's one of the hardest working forwards in the country. He just never quits, keeps rolling. He's a great player."

The big difference came at the free-throw line. Sierra Canyon hit 13 of 18 to La Lumiere's dismal 9-of-19 shooting.

"We shot our free throws great, this tournament," Nichols said.

La Lumiere opened double-digit leads twice in the game, only to see Sierra Canyon chip away.

"I think they sped us up with some pressure," Heirman said. "We just didn't take care of the basketball like we should have and too many careless turnovers."

 



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].