At 4:45 p.m Friday, Dec. 5, San Diego sports fans from around the county lined up for the 7:30 p.m. rivalry basketball game between Saint Augustine High School and Cathedral Catholic High School, one that has been a tradition between the schools since 1966.

Students, parents and families were determined to secure front row seats for the rematch in the Claver Center gym at CCHS. CCHS was ranked No. 2 and SAHS was ranked No.3 in the county heading into the contest. So, Friday night’s game was a showdown of which would would emerge on top.

Earlier in the season, the schools played against each other in a nail-biting game, with CCHS taking the win 56-53. Ready for a second matchup, the SAHS planned to double and triple team 7’0 power forward Brandon McCoy ‘17 of CCHS.

That didn’t stop McCoy, as he scored 17 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, blocked numerous shots throughout the game and led CCHS to a 72-61 win in front of a jam-packed crowd.

“I think Saints gave our team an advantage by triple blocking Brandon,” Chad Brinza ‘17 said. “It left Reid open, who seemed to score a majority of our points, and Brandon, of course, cannot be stopped.”

Reid Johnson ‘16 was the shooter of the game, scoring 24 points with four 3-point field goals and six rebounds.

“It was such a great environment to play in,” Johnson said. “Los Locos really stepped up and was much better than The Pit last night.
Overall this game gives us a lot of momentum going into the rest of league and in the playoffs. I’m really excited for what the rest of the year will offer.”

The game was tied 11 times in the first 24 minutes, and at that point it was anyone’s game. At halftime, CCHS led by only one point, and the crowd was left wondering who would take the win. After the half, CCHS stepped it up defensively. By the third quarter, CCHS led 50-47.

SAHS player 6’8 Taeshon Cherry ‘18 cut his face in the second quarter and rolled his ankle in the early third, leaving Saints without a star player for a large portion of the game.

In the fourth quarter, McCoy scored seven points and Austin Beech ’16 scored six, bringing CCHS its first league victory against SAHS, minus the one earlier this year, since the 2011-2012 season.

“It was an amazing feeling to see the seniors on the court ball out and put it all on the line for us,” Preston Stebel ‘16 said. “This win was one moment in all of my high school career that I will remember forever.”

Sitting atop the Western League, CCHS now plays a home game against Scripps Ranch High School this Tuesday Feb. 9 at 5:15 p.m.