Like father, like sons, Mobleys excel

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 29, 2018

Rancho Christian's ISAIAH and EVAN MOBLEY

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

RANCHO CHRISTIAN 89, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 73

EastCountySports.com staff report

CORONA – ERIC MOBLEY was the Grossmont Conference Player of the Year in 1986 as a member of the Helix Highlanders.

Mobley, a long-striding forward/center with the Scotties, went on to play college basketball at the University of Portland and Cal Poly Pomona before playing professionally in four countries.

Last March, Mobley, a former coach with the Compton Magic basketball program and founder of his own youth basketball organization, Triple Threat Sports, was tabbed as an assistant coach at USC by head coach ANDY ENFIELD.

ERIC MOBLEY (right) with his Helix High head coach JOHN SINGER.

Tuesday night at Centennial High School, Mobley’s sons – ISAIAH and EVAN – combined for 58 points and 22 rebounds as the state second-ranked Rancho Christian Eagles defeated San Diego County fifth-ranked Foothills Christian, 89-73, at the Battlezone.

Evan Mobley, a 7-foot junior forward considered to be the nation’s top player in his class, had 16 points in the first half, including several slam dunks. He had an unofficial tally of nine slams in the game.

The Eagles (2-0) led by a point after the first quarter as Foothills was getting good looks and was sharp from short range, but Rancho went on a 13-4 run to open the second period.

A rebound and basket by Evan Mobley and made it 30-23, then the Knight’s DARRIEN CARTER-HOLLINGER flew over Isaiah Mobley for a crazy tip for a basketball, but he was charged with an offensive foul, negating the bucket.

On, the next possession Isaiah Mobley threw down a slam and Rancho Christian also had several three-pointers in the second period to lead 45-32 at halftime.

The Mobley brothers added back-t0-back three-point shots in the third quarter.

Isaiah Mobley, a 6-foot-10 forward considered to be in the nation’s top 20 prospects in this year’s senior class, had 12 points in the third and finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

The Mobley brothers both had 23 points through three, as Rancho led 62-40 midway through the period.

Last season, exactly one year ago, the Eagles defeated this Knights here at this event, 87-71.

On the other Battlezone championship bracket match, Chino Hills defeated Orange Lutheran, 50-49, setting up a consolation matchup between the Knights and OLu.

Onyeka Okongwu, who like the Mobley brothers, is a near-certain to join the Trojans, had 27 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks for Chino Hills.

Rancho Christian will face Chino Hills in the semifinal round Friday night at Centennial High.