Top two boys basketball teams in state square off as Eastvale Roosevelt, St. John Bosco meet again to decide Platinum Division championship at The Classic at Damien

St. John Bosco lost to Eastvale Roosevelt in 2016 in the inaugural edition of The Classic at Damien boys basketball tournament.

Roosevelt prevailed again in the rematch seven years later with a 68-65 victory in last season’s Platinum Division final.

St. John Bosco (14-0) is not only looking to remain unbeaten, but finally get over the hump against Roosevelt (14-1) when the top two boys basketball programs in California square off at 8:30 p.m. PST Monday at the Damien Athletic Center.

Roosevelt, led by last year’s tournament MVP Brayden Burries, is looking to become the first team to secure back-to-back Platinum Division championships at Damien since Rancho Christian captured consecutive titles in 2018-19.

Burries had 22 points Saturday to help Roosevelt produce an 86-65 semifinal victory against Layton Christian Academy from Utah (7-5).

Issac Williamson made a school-record 10 3-point field goals and scored 34 points for Roosevelt, which also received 11 points, nine assists and seven steals from Myles Walker.

Isaac Harrington of Eastvale Roosevelt, left, and Jack Turner from St. John Bosco | Photo courtesy of The Classic at Damien

Williamson contributed 17 points and Burries added 15 points in last year’s showdown with St. John Bosco, with Elzie Harrington and Brandon McCoy Jr. both scoring 15 points for the Braves.

St. John Bosco returned to the final following a 66-45 semifinal victory Saturday against La Mirada (12-3).

Harrington had 17 points and eight rebounds for St. John Bosco, which built a 24-4 advantage in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

Despite McCoy still being sidelined with a left foot injury, St. John Bosco received strong support with a pair of 14-point performances from Chris Komin and Max Ellis, in addition to Christian Collins contributing eight points.

The Gold Division final, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Damien Athletic Center, will also showcase a rematch involving Crespi (12-4) and Anaheim Canyon (11-2), both seeking their first titles in any division at the prestigious event.

Although the teams didn’t square off last season at The Classic at Damien, Anaheim Canyon did produce a 54-50 nonleague victory in January against the Celts.

Peyton White had 19 points in that matchup for Crespi, with Staf Yilmazturk contributing eight points for Anaheim Canyon.

Crespi achieved an 85-70 semifinal triumph Saturday against Campbell Hall (9-3), with Isaiah Barnes scoring 20 points, White adding 19 points and eight rebounds, and Carter Barnes producing 10 points for the Celts.

Anaheim Canyon secured a 74-47 semifinal win Saturday against Ironwood from Arizona (8-1), led by 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists from Brandon Benjamin.

Noah Kim added 20 points and Yilmazturk had 14 points for the Comanches.