Mundis Makes Magic: SFC's upset of Montgomery headlines Battle at the Bay

Mission Bay head coach Marshawn Cherry's Battle at the Bay has given us upsets, dramatic finishes and stellar performances over its four installations.

The fifth annual showcase gave us all that and then some by the halfway mark of the event.

In Game 3 of the seven-game showcase, Santa Fe Christian registered a major upset in thrilling fashion, as 5-11 junior guard Greyson Mundis tossed in a buzzer beating floater to lead the Eagles to a 70-69 win over No. 3 Montgomery.

Mundis' shot came five seconds after Montgomery had retaken the lead on the strength of a driving layup by 6-2 sophomore guard Xair Mendez.

The Eagles led the game by as many as 15 points in the third quarter before the Aztecs methodically worked their way back into the game, - largely on the strength of 6-5 sophomore forward JJ Sanchez's dominant stretch - taking the lead at 67-66 with 39 seconds left.

Santa Fe retook the lead on a floater by Brycen Mackenzie with 19 seconds left, which set up the frantic finish.

Mackenzie and Drew Bickley - who did most of his damage in the first half - led the Eagles with 24, the same total as Sanchez for Montgomery.

The second game of the event was also hotly contested, as Otay Ranch (17-10) outlasted Hoover (12-14) 72-67 in double overtime.

Keoni Enriquez paced the Mustangs with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Hoover's high-scoring duo of junior guard Santiago Estrada and senior Ozzeno Diallo scored 23 points apiece.

Hoover trailed by 6 entering the final quarter and Otay's lead stretched to as many as 10 before Diallo and Estrada - along with contributions from Hassan Anglo and Mohammed Abdisalan - tied the game at 52 with 48 seconds left, before the two teams exchanged baskets to lead to a 54-54 score at the end of regulation. The teams each scored 8 points in the first overtime before Keian Spandonis hit a corner three to open the second overtime period, giving the Mustangs a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Results from the rest of the day's action:

Game 1: Scripps Ranch 72, Del Norte 50

The Falcons dominated the shorthanded Nighthawks from the outset, getting a pair of thunderous dunks from 6-6 senior Micah Brickner in the first 10 minutes of action.

But it was 6-1 junior guard Kai Brown who led the charge with 22 points, earning player of the game honors.

6-5 junior Zion Applewhaite scored 12 to lead the Nighthawks, who were without senior standout Ben Lee.

Game 4: Lincoln 53, El Camino 48

The Hornets are the hottest team in the San Diego section, winning 14 games in a row and taking down No. 10 El Camino in the final game of the afternoon session.

6-4 junior guard Kyelin King put together a massive 21-point, 20-rebound performance to lead the Hornets to the win. 6-1 junior Euan Davis led the Wildcats with 16 points.

Game 5: Torrey Pines 62, San Diego 54

6-5 senior wing JJ Bartelloni erupted for 32 points to help the Falcons outlast the Cavers, who were playing the game without leading scorer Noah Marte.

Torrey Pines amassed a 12-point halftime lead and fended off a late push by the Cavers, who were led by 6-5 sophomore Jayden Wade, who netted a 19-point, 12-rebound double double.

Game 6: Mission Bay 44, Mission Hills 35

In a game that could be euphemistically be called a defensive struggle, it was 6-7 Buccaneers junior forward Charlie Hutchison who propelled his team to the win behind his 25-point, 12-rebound performance, nearly outscoring the Grizzlies by himself. Angelo Gil chipped in 12 points in the win.

After leading 7-6 after the first quarter, the Buccaneers pushed the lead to 21-14 at the halftime break and didn't look back.

6-2 junior guard Jake Bishop led the Grizzlies with 12 points, the only player in double figures for his team.

Game 7: Rancho Christian 70, La Costa Canyon 62

The lone non-San Diego Section team used a strong third-quarter push to distance itself from the Mavericks, who showcased their newest roster addition to the county at large: 6-10 senior Wesley Smith.

The USC Volleyball commit joined the Mavericks about 10 days ago, and was instrumental in the team's upset win over No. 2 Carlsbad.

Early on in Saturday's contest, you could see how Smith's presence boosts the Mavericks on both sides of the ball, by giving them a rim-runner and finisher above the rim, which also allows forwards Christian Brown and Trevor Ladd to play their natural positions on the wing and midpost, respectively.

Brown, especially, has benefited, as evidenced by his 26-point performance, a game high. He hit 5 threes in the first half.

But the Eagles got a combined 59 points from new USD commit Kevin Patton Jr. (21), Cal signee Rodney Brown (21) and unsigned stud guard Kollen Murphy (17) to get the win. The Eagles learned today that they will be the top seed in the Southern Section 2AA playoffs.