Patriots thrill in double-OT win

By Ramon Scott
Updated: May 13, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

CHRISTIAN 88, MIRA MESA 85 (2 OT)

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – The Christian High Patriots and Mira Mesa Marauders have had some ups and downs this season but the two teams might be able to lay claim to the county’s most exciting boys varsity basketball game so far this season.

The Patriots outlasted the Marauders, 88-85, in double-overtime on Wednesday in a non-league game at Ryan Athletic Center.

This one figured to be a close game coming in and it didn’t disappoint. The game was tied 36-all at halftime, although Mira Mesa took a nine-point lead in the fourth.

Shawn Jacks0n-Ascura and Hunter Provience combined to score 14 points in the fourth quarter to help send the game into OT.

But it was Junior Nelson’s three-pointer in overtime that seemed to give CHS all the winning momentum.

“Mira Mesa is an outstanding team,” Christian High head coach Tim Brown said. “Both teams made plays to keep the back-and-forth for 40 minutes.”

Provience made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 80-all, which sent the game into overtime.

“Hunter Provience had a huge night for us and kept us in the game on the offensive end,” Brown added.

Patrick Perez hit a 14-foot jumper to give the Patriots an 84-83 lead in the first overtime.

Following a blocking foul, Jackson-Ascura made one of two free throws to tie the game at 85-all after the first OT.

For two teams that scored a ton of points in this one, they couldn’t find a hoop for a time during the second extra session.

Isaiah Givens scored an easy wide-open layup on a beautiful feed from Provience in a two-man game, as Givens cut inside his man for a clear lane to the hoop with just 25 seconds remaining in the period.

“That game was intense,” Provience said. “Mira Mesa was a team full of shooters and we couldn’t seem to shut their threes down. We did a good job of hitting clutch threes and making our free throws. I got most of my points in the paint, as well as Jack St. Fleur and Shawn Jackson-Ascura.”

Jackson-Ascura led Christian with 19 points but he poured in on when it was needed most.

Jackson-Ascura had eight points in the fourth quarter and seven in the extra sessions. He also added eight rebounds.

Provience was next for the Patriots with 18 points, after totaling just one bucket in the first half. He also contributed 14 rebounds and eight assists.

The Patriots were stellar again from the line, going 13-for-17 as a team.

St. Fleur scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half.

“Jack St. Fleur had his best all-around game of the season,” Brown said. “He seemed to do everything we needed to help us win.”

St. Fleur made a three-pointer in the second quarter. He grabbed 10 rebounds.

“We did a great job fighting until the end,” St. Fleur said. “Everyone did a great job in their role. Everyone contributed to this win. The bench and the crowd helped us seal the win at the end.”

Perez had 14 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

Givens tallied 11 points, including a triple in the fourth.

The Marauders’ game-tying attempt nearly found a way to go down, but the ball was secured for the win.

Joevi Cuyugan scored 27 points for Mira Mesa, while teammate Spencer Hall made six three-pointers and finished with 20 points.