By Stephen Ramirez
PASADENA — Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary might have been at half strength, with its top player nursing a rib injury, but it still manage to account for itself quite nicely Monday.
It took some last-second heroics from El Camino Real’s to knock off the Cardinals, 43-41, in a boys basketball game at the MLK Day Showdown at La Salle High School.
The winning play was turned in by the Conquistadors’ Stone Spellman, who dropped in a layup with five seconds left for the two-point win. Chris Terry had 13 points to lead El Camino Real, which improved to 11-6.
Cantwell had a chance for the win, but Jacob Davidson’s 3-pointer at the buzzer fell short. Balsa Dragovic had 15 points for the Cardinals, who slipped to 11-6. Cantwell was without leading-scorer Gligorije Rakocevic, who is nursing a rib injury. Rakocevic and Dragovic have signed to play at Oregon State and Harvard, respectively.
Terry made two 3-pointers to give the Conquistadors a 41-40 lead with 39 seconds left. Radovic then made one of two free throws to tie it at 41 with 32 seconds remaining, setting up Spellman’s last second shot. He drove the lane for the winning layup with five seconds left.
Davidson’s 3-pointer at the buzzer was short.
Cantwell coach George Zedan: “I’m proud of our kids. I’m disappointed with the loss, but at the end of the day, (El Camino Real) is a very good team. We just didn’t make enough plays to come in at the end and steal a win.”