Sierra Canyon steps up to challenge in Division 1 boys basketball final against Stockton Lincoln, captures fourth state championship

SACRAMENTO – Even for a group that has played against an elite national schedule, battled against the most grueling playoff grouping in the country in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division and competed in prominent arenas and venues across several states, the members of the Sierra Canyon boys basketball team quickly realized during pre-game introductions Friday the magnitude of the support for the Stockton Lincoln program in the Division 1 state final at Golden 1 Center.

The Trailblazers not only managed their emotions, especially in the fourth quarter during a back-and-forth battle, but executed when it mattered most, most notably junior Maximo Adams.

Sierra Canyon overcame a three-point deficit in the final three minutes, with Adams scoring eight of his 14 points down the stretch, including the biggest 3-point field goal of his career, and senior Bryce Cofield giving the Trailblazers the lead for good with 1:03 remaining to secure a 58-53 victory and the program’s fourth state crown.

Post-game interviews

Sierra Canyon (27-7) won its first Division 1 state title and captured a championship for the first time since producing back-to-back Open Division victories under head coach Andre Chevalier in 2018-19.

The Trailblazers, who also won a Division 5 boys crown in 2015 at Haas Pavilion at Cal-Berkeley, are unbeaten as a school in nine appearances in state basketball finals, with Sierra Canyon also securing five girls championships – highlighted by two titles in the Open Division in 2019 and 2022 – under the guidance of head coach Alicia Komaki.

Despite its struggles from behind the 3-point arc the entire night, Sierra Canyon was able to come through under pressure against Stockton Lincoln (31-5).

Stephen Kankole made 3 of 6 attempts from behind the 3-point arc for the Trailblazers, but the rest of the Sierra Canyon roster had missed a combined 17 3-point field goals, before Adams knocked down a shot from the left corner with 1:51 remaining to grab a 51-50 lead against the Trojans.

Anthony Moore, who led Stockton Lincoln with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists, made one of two free-throw attempts to tie the score at 51-51 with 1:31 left.

Cofield then responded with a layup with 1:03 remaining to help the Trailblazers regain the advantage and Adams stepped up again with a three-point play with 17 seconds left to increase the lead to 56-51 for Sierra Canyon.

Moore hit a pair of free throws for the Trojans to pull as close as 56-53 with 8.8 seconds remaining, but Adams showcased calm and composure once again to clinch the victory with two more free throws with four seconds left to account for the final margin.

Sierra Canyon hit 7 of 9 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter to finish 20 of 30 for the contest, helping offset a 4-of-24 performance from 3-point territory.

The Trailblazers also had a 22-12 edge on scoring points in the paint, in addition to outrebounding Stockton Lincoln by a 44-32 margin.

Cofield had 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals, with Gavin Hightower scoring a team-high 15 points and contributing seven rebounds for the Trailblazers, who also received 10 points from Kankole, as well as three points and five rebounds from Bryce James with father LeBron James sitting courtside supporting Sierra Canyon.

Donez Lindsey matched Moore with an 18-point performance for Stockton Lincoln, including 11 third-quarter points, highlighted by three 3-point field goals in the final 90 seconds to give the Trojans a 47-44 lead entering the fourth.

Lindsey also contributed four steals and three assists, but Stockton Lincoln shot 2 of 11 from the field in the final quarter and scored only six points in the fourth in its pursuit to become the first Sac-Joaquin Section program to capture a Division 1 state championship since Pleasant Grove in 2013.

The Trailblazers became the 13th boys basketball program in the state – regardless of division – to win at least four titles.

Sierra Canyon joined Bishop Montgomery and Mater Dei as one of three schools in state history to win at least four boys and four girls basketball championships. Bishop Montgomery has accumulated seven girls titles and four boys crowns, with Mater Dei capturing 11 boys championships and four girls titles.