Basketball (Boys) | 2/5/2025 3:22:00 PM

The following is article from The San Diego Union-Tribune, "Dons survive 'grind,' outlast Mission Bay in Western League clash."

Two top-10 boys basketball programs squared off Tuesday night when No. 6 Mission Bay traveled to No. 7 Cathedral Catholic in a pivotal Western League game.

Mission Bay took its first lead late in the third quarter, but the Dons were able to execute in the final eight minutes for a 69-65 home victory.

"Every halftime, we say the score is 0-0," said Graham Bousley, Cathedral Catholic's first-year coach. "We try to play everything one possession at a time and have a next-play mentality. Our guys have the understanding that Mission Bay's a great team and well-coached.

"Every game with them is a grind. That's a tribute to how (coach Marshawn Cherry) built the program over the years."

Leading the way for the Dons (16-8, 4-1 Western League) was senior Steven Evans-Glynn III, who scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the first two quarters.

"Just my teammates finding me, passing me the ball and attacking the rim," Evans-Glynn said.

Bousley said Evans-Glynn "can play at any level." He should know: Bousley spent 15 years at the college level, working at Wisconsin, Marquette, Penn State and Longwood.

"His motor from this game today, he's athletic and plays as hard as any Division I player I've ever coached," Bousley said.

Evans-Glynn was one of four Dons who scored in double figures. Seniors "PJ" Paul Jourdain Jr and Patrick O'Brien scored 16 and 10 points, respectively. Twelve of Jourdain's points came at the free-throw line. Junior Kai Carlson added 12 points.

"The unselfishness of PJ and Pat; to know that they're getting taken away, they find their next teammate," Bousley said. "That's what it takes. That's what we're trying to build, just an unselfish program that's fearless to grow.

"With (Jourdain and O'Brien) getting taken away, (Carlson) was more open, and he really stepped up tonight. He's really growing as a complete player."

O'Brien made two 3-pointers early to give the Dons a 20-11 lead late in the first quarter. Mission Bay (17-7, 3-3) responded with a 9-0 run to begin the second quarter to tie the game at 22 before Cathedral Catholic went on a 10-0 run of its own.

The Buccaneers also went on an 8-0 run to begin the third quarter, but came after senior Abwola Ochalla was charged with a technical foul prior to halftime as Jourdain made 3-of-4 from the free throw line to give the Dons a 40-31 lead.

"The mentality really was just to relax, play cool," Evans-Glynn said during the second quarter. "We've been in this before with them multiple times, so it was normal."

Senior Pablo Balderas led Mission Bay with 18 points. Junior Caleb Newton added 17 points for the Buccaneers.

Up next, Cathedral Catholic travels Friday to rival St. Augustine, which is ranked 10th in San Diego and sits in first place in the Western League. Mission Bay heads to La Jolla on Thursday.