San Gabriel Academy boys basketball team survives chaotic final minute against The King’s Academy to win first Division 3 state championship

SACRAMENTO – The celebration was abbreviated for San Gabriel Academy following the first Division 3 boys basketball title in program history, as the student-athletes from the Seventh-Day Adventist School had to quickly catch a plane back to Southern California following the post-game awards ceremony and media press conference in order to observe the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sundown Saturday.

But the festive atmosphere almost didn’t materialize at all for San Gabriel Academy, as the Eagles nearly relinquished a 10-point lead in the final minute against The King’s Academy, before holding on for a 52-51 victory at Golden 1 Center.

Karan Kolappa stole the ball and made a layup with one second remaining for the Knights (27-5) to account for the final margin, but despite the inspired comeback by The King’s Academy, the Eagles experienced relief as the final horn sounded after benefiting from a pair of free throws by sophomore Xavier Wang with 11.6 seconds left.

Post-game interviews

San Gabriel Academy (21-13) received a game-high 20 points, along with 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots from 6-foot-11 sophomore Mahamadou Diop, with the forward from Mali producing an explosive slam dunk with 2:12 remaining to give the Eagles a 50-40 lead.

The King’s Academy benefited from being able to stop the clock on several occasions in the final minute, as junior Claxton Ladine, freshman Boss Mhoon and senior guard Kolappa combined for six free throws in a 25-second span to cut the deficit to 50-46.

Ladine then hit his fourth 3-pointer of the contest with 20 seconds remaining to help The King’s Academy pull to within 50-49.

After Wang, who contributed seven points and three steals for the Eagles, made the only two free throws of the fourth quarter for San Gabriel Academy following The King’s Academy being called for a questionable illegal screen on a crucial possession, the Knights were unable to produce a potential tying 3-pointer.

Kolappa, who had 12 points, four rebounds and four steals, only added to the dramatic conclusion with his late steal and layup, but The King’s Academy ran out of time in its comeback pursuit.

San Gabriel Academy built a 13-point halftime lead, with Diop scoring 10 points and senior Coco Britt contributing six of his eight points in the first two quarters.

The Eagles extended the advantage to 36-21 on a 3-pointer by Wang with 4:45 left in the third, but The King’s Academy rallied to score the final 11 points of the quarter, highlighted by a pair of baskets from Xavier Barnett and a 3-point field goal from Dickson.

Barnett had 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Knights, with Ladine contributing 13 points and three rebounds, in addition to Mhoon adding nine points and five rebounds, as well as Caedmon Dickson scoring six points.

Mamadou Traore produced seven points and nine rebounds for the Eagles, who held a 43-31 rebounding edge against The King’s Academy.

San Gabriel Academy captured a Division 3 championship one year after losing in the opening round of the Division 2 state playoffs to eventual runner-up Bakersfield Centennial, achieving the feat with first-year head coach Daniel Piepoli leading the Eagles.

Piepoli was instrumental in helping San Gabriel Academy rebound from a 45-43 loss Feb. 21 to Sage Hill in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3-AA semifinals to win five consecutive state playoff contests and secure the title.