Vista stuns LCC to open Gamepoint Fall Showcase
Vista Head Coach Anthony Bolton has been quietly confident that his Panthers team is prepared to make noise this upcoming season.
After Friday night's 47-39 victory over La Costa Canyon in the conclusion of the 4-game kickoff of the Gamepoint Fall Showcase, the secret might be out.
With an infusion of talent that includes four transfers to pair with the program's varsity holdovers, the Panthers looked the part of a Top 15 team as they jumped out to an early 6-point lead over the Mavericks, widely considered to be one of the county's top 3 preseason teams.
Two emphatic dunks by Mavs senior Christian Brown on consecutive possessions helped LCC to cut Vista's lead to 22-21 at half. But the Panthers responded in the second half with solid efforts from Portland commit Cyprian Hyde and the team's trio of sophomore transfers: San Diego transfer guard Gavin Guinn, Oceanside transfer guard Ashaun Mitchell and San Marcos transfer wing CJ Coleman.
That coupled with a strong effort from improved senior guard LaCiya Garrett and senior transfer Naasik Taylor was enough for the Panthers to maintain the lead the entire second half.
Vista's win highlighted the four-game slate to open the 14th annual showcase, which features many of the region's top teams.
Carlsbad held off Del Norte to notch an impressive 53-50 win without its two leading scorers, Jake Hall and TJ Duckett. Senior guard Cole Murray, junior guard Tristan Guzman, sophomore guard Jett Kenady and freshman wing Briggs Young all had strong games.
Canyon Crest notched the night's lone blowout, a 55-29 win over Mission Vista in which the Ravens hit 11 threes.
And Poway senior guard Justin Lubisich scored a go-ahead layup with 13 seconds left to lift the Titans to a 37-36 win over Ramona.
The Fall Showcase continues Saturday and Sunday at the Gamepoint-USK Facility in San Marcos and features a stacked lineup of talented teams, including San Diego's top two squads, St. Augustine and San Ysidro, prep power Balboa and Southern Section Open Division contender Rancho Christian.
Among the other top teams participating are Torrey Pines, Mission Bay, Mission Hills, Santa Fe Christian, Montgomery, Murrieta Mesa, San Marcos and El Camino.
Key games:
Saturday
Balboa vs Mission Bay, 9 am
Del Norte vs Mission Hills, 9 am
LCC vs St. Augustine, 10 am
Mission Bay vs Mission Hills, 11 am
Balboa vs St. Augustine, noon
LCC vs San Ysidro, 1 pm
Vista vs SFC, 2 pm
SFC vs Carlsbad, 4 pm
TP vs Murrieta Mesa, 5 pm
San Marcos vs Torrey Pines , noon (court 2)
Montgomery vs El Camino, 8 pm
Sunday
Rancho Christian vs San Ysidro, 3 pm
Rancho Christian vs Balboa, 5 pm
Mission Bay vs Rancho Bernardo, 5 pm (court 2)
Balboa vs Montgomery, 2 pm
TP vs San Marcos, noon (Court 2)
SFC vs Murrieta Mesa, 4 pm
Top prospects:
Mikey Williams, San Ysidro: The 6-3 senior guard is a consensus Top 30 prospect who has offers from Kansas and USC, among others.
Jurian Dixon, St. Augustine: The 6-5 senior wing has offers from LMU and USD
Cedric Lath, Balboa: The 6-9 bruiser has offers from Houston and UCLA, among others
Kevin Patton, Rancho Christian: Arizona senior transfer has offers from Wazzu, Santa Clara and Rice
Rodney Brown, RC: the 6-6 senior guard is verbally committed to Cal
Martin Gumwel, RC: The 6-11 senior post is committed to Pepperdine.
Angelo Gil, San Ysidro: The senior All-CIF selection last season has an offer from Ottowa University - AZ.
Jake Hall, Carlsbad: The 6-3 sophomore guard has offers from Cal Poly and UCSD
Jaden Matingou, St. Augustine: The 6-3 senior guard has offers from UCSD and Point Loma.
Lolo Rudolph, St. Augustine: The 6-2 junior point guard is considered a Top 5 Pg prospect in the 2024 class out West.
All games at the Gamepoint/ USK Facility, 1248 Los Vallecitos Blvd San Marcos, CA 92069.
