Woodbridge’s Jaiden Sabino drives the lane as Gahr’s Makhi Montgomery defends Tuesday night. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).
Woodbridge’s boys basketball team kept it close for three quarters Tuesday night, but Gahr pulled away in the fourth quarter to notch a 65-55 victory in a CIF Division 3 quarterfinal round game at Woodbridge.
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Gahr led by three-points going into the final quarter after Woodbridge senior Jaiden Sabino sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Woodbridge hope.
But the Gladiators outscored Woodbridge 10-3 in the final stanza to advance into the semfinals Friday night against Aliso Niguel at Aliso Niguel.
Sabino wound up his remarkable four-year varsity career scoring 32 points and sinking six 3-pointers, but Gahr had more offensive firepower, led by 6-9 senior Makhi Montgomery, who came off the bench to score 20 points and Bryce Titus who had 18 points.
Kingston Nathaniel added 13 points and hit a 3-pointer a few feet behind the mid-court stripe to end the first quarter.
Garrett DiCostanzo added 10 points and Jahan Adloo nine points for Woodbridge (21-10).
“Ever since the middle part of league all through this run, the guys really believed in it and got back into it with a defensive mind-set,” said Woodbridge Coach Steve Scoggin. “Tonight, Gahr just made more plays in the end. They made some big shots, number four (Montgomery) coming off the bench scored a lot of points and 22 (Titus) was hitting big shots at the end.
“They just made more plays than we could. They have guys who can score and they’re athletic, they were making their shots.”
Gahr (21-10) held a 28-25 lead at halftime and moved out to a six-point lead in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Adloo tied the game 45-45 on a 3-pointer. But Gahr responded with a 12-2 run to secure the win.
“It’s a hard loss for sure,” Sabino said. “They came out and all their guys hit big shots.We couldn’t stop their big guys, so it just came down to rebounds and we didn’t make shots at the end. They wanted it more and the team that wants it more, moves on, that’s how it ended.”
Sabino, who came back from a hand injury which sidelined him most of league play, described the season as “memorable,” adding he wants to continue playing in college.
“I love all the guys, everyone came together and bought into the system and finding their role and that was the key to our success all year, just playing together and being there for one another.”
Gahr players were excited to be moving on to the semifinals against Aliso Niguel, which defeated Alta Loma 78-58.
“I told our kids when the playoffs started, I feel great about our chances to get a win,” said Gahr Coach Marcus Girley. “But it’s going to come with a lot of adversity every single game, our goal was to not let the adversity linger, possession to possession, quarter to quarter. Twelve (Sabino) doesn’t stop, but our kids kept fighting, we’ve relied on our defense the whole season and that’s what carried us at the end of the game.”
Nathaniel’s long 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter put Gahr ahead 12-9 and gave the Gladiators a lift.
“We’ve been getting close on those all year, the basketball Gods finally gave us one,” Girley said.
Scoggin, the Woodbridge coach, praised Sabino for another outstanding effort and career.
“That’s what your four-year varsity starter is supposed to do,” he said. “He’s going to be one you’re going to miss. Yeah, he can score points, but he’s so gritty, he’s just a dog out there and a leader on the floor and is going to be missed. But I think there are other guys who are going to step up.”
—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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