Foothill boys basketball wins battle with Canyon to go undefeated in Crestview League
Travis Paleo scores 23 points and Mansur McClain adds 22 in the Knights’ 69-58 victory Thursday
Foothill’s Mansur McClain, left, and Isaiah Bernard, left, are all smiles after winning the Crestview League basketball game against Canyon in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
By Lou Ponsi | Correspondent / Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Foothill’s Jordan Martin, center, muscles his way past Canyon’s Kyden Patterson, left, in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Staf Yilmazturk, scores a basket against Foothill in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Kai Nixon, left, and Canyon’s Zach Cutler fight for the rebound in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Mansur McClain, left, takes a shot in front of Canyon’s Josh Goodall in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Jeremy Loreto, center, takes a jumper over Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Danny Kennard takes shot over a Canyon defender in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Josh Goodall, right, passes the ball when he can’t get by Foothill’s Danny Kennard, left, in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Mansur McClain, left, and Isaiah Bernard, left, are all smiles after winning the Crestview League basketball game against Canyon in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Danny Kennard, left, reaches for rebound over Canyon’s Zach Cutler in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard puts up a shot against Canyon in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Kyden Patterson, right, tips the rebound away from Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Lorenzo Turner lets out a yell to celebrate as the Knights defeat Canyon in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Isaiah Bernard, center, gets squeezed out by Canyon’s Staf Yilmazturk, left, and Pierce Haugen, left, in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Josh Goodall, left, makes a move around Foothill’s Danny Kennard to score a basket in a Crestview League basketball game in Anaheim on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
ANAHEIM — Consistent scoring for four quarters from Travis Paleo and a spectacular third quarter from Mansur McClain were the difference in Foothill’s 69-58 victory over Canyon in the Crestview League finale for both teams Thursday at Canyon High School.
The Knights (20-8, 6-0), who are ranked No. 5 in Orange County, had already clinched a share of first place going into the contest and captured the league title outright with the victory over the No. 12 Comanches (21-7, 4-2), who finished in second place.
Foothill won both games against Canyon and snapped the Comanches’ six-year run as either league champions or co-league champions.
Both squads advance to the CIF SS Division 1 playoffs. The brackets will be released Sunday.
Canyon stayed within a possession or two for most of the fourth quarter until Foothill pulled away down the stretch.
“No matter what the game situation is, preseason, postseason, league championship, it’s always a tough game,” Foothill coach Yousof Etemadi said. “We were prepared, they were prepared, and this is the beauty of high school basketball.”
Paleo hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter, two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 23 points.
After going scoreless in the first half, McClain scored 15 in the third quarter and finished with 22 points.
McClain acknowledged being more of a “go-to-the-rim guy,” but hit three 3-pointers in the third and had four for the game.
“But if they leave me open, I’ll knock them down,” the junior said. “In this game we just all felt good energy and we played together, and we did well. We shared the ball, and that’s why we all excelled.”
Both teams scored 21 points in an up-tempo third quarter in which highlight-reel type shots were made on both ends of the court.
On consecutive possessions late in the quarter, Canyon’s Josh Goodall, who led the Comanches with 17 points, incorporated a spin move to get past a defender on a driving layup, and then made an under-handed layup to avoid a defender on the following possession.
“Our kids played great,” Canyon coach Nate Harrison said. “I thought we played about as well as we could play and just give credit to Foothill. Mansur had 23 points in the second half. When a kid does that, you just tip your hat.”
Canyon trailed by three going into the fourth quarter and had opportunities to tie the score or get within a point on two different possessions.
But the Comanches turned the ball over on one of those possessions and missed a shot on the second opportunity.
Both times, Foothill responded with baskets to push the lead back up to two possessions.
“They hit big shots,” Harrison said. “(McClain) made every shot he took. When that happens, it’s hard to win a game.”
