Basketball (Boys) | 2/26/2025 9:20:00 PM
Check out game highlights HERE, courtesy of Fox 5 KUSI News. Or HERE, courtesy of Flix Media Network
Cathedral Catholic's San DIego playoff run came to an end in the Open Division semifinals Friday night, as the Dons fell to No. 2 Carlsbad 73-61 in a high-energy showdown marked by lead changes, highlight plays, and a relentless pace from both teams.
Led by a strong senior trio, the Dons (20-10) went toe-to-toe with the defending champions through three quarters. Senior
Steven Evans-Glynn III powered the offense with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while fellow seniors
Patrick O'Brien and PJ Jourdain added 11 and 16 points, respectively. O'Brien was a key factor from beyond the arc, knocking down three 3-pointers, and Junior
"Max" Maximiliano Meza matched that effort with three triples of his own, finishing with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
The Dons came out strong, taking a 19-17 lead after the first quarter behind six early points each from Evans-Glynn and O'Brien. Carlsbad responded in the second quarter to edge ahead 33-31 at halftime in a game that saw six ties and eight lead changes in the first half alone.
Despite the fast tempo and physical play, Cathedral Catholic only reached the free throw line five times all night, as both teams pushed the pace in an up-and-down contest. The Dons stayed within striking distance heading into the final period, trailing 47-41 after three. But a decisive 7-0 run by the Lancers midway through the fourth helped the hosts take control and ultimately punch their ticket to the finals.
The Dons cut the deficit to six with under two minutes to play, but could not close the gap any further as Carlsbad closed strong in front of a packed home crowd.
While the loss ends Cathedral Catholic's run at a section title, the Dons' season is far from over. With a strong resume and a top-tier schedule, Cathedral now awaits its placement in the upcoming CIF State Tournament. The team will look to regroup and make a deep run on the state stage, leaning on its experienced core and battle-tested roster for one final postseason push.
Carlsbad advances to face Montgomery in a rematch of last year's Open Division championship.
