SAN JOSE — Most basketball groups can be comfortable to have one go-to participant. With No. 1 Archbishop Riordan, it’s nearly simpler to find out who isn’t harmful.
Wing Jasir Rencher? He’s an issue. Guard Andrew Hilman? A headache. Coupled with a deep bench and a towering heart combo of 6-foot-10 Nes Emeneke and 6-foot-9 JP Pihtovs, the Crusaders can roll over nearly any opponent.
That’s precisely what occurred to Bellarmine on Friday night time in San Jose. The Bells welcomed in Riordan for a battle of 10-1 groups, and so they trailed by simply three factors after the primary quarter. However Riordan took a double-digit lead into the half after a 13-0 run, and the Crusaders merely had been an excessive amount of to cease down the stretch in a 64-38 win.
“It felt good, but it’s what we expect,” stated Riordan coach Joe Curtin. “We are playing well. We’re deep. We have a nice, cohesive group. We have great chemistry on and off the floor. So if they’re not giving a good effort right away, I think that’s on me. This team is pretty locked in, and we got it rolling pretty good.”
Riordan’s Andrew Hilman scores on a layup towards Bellarmine’s Cam Razavi in a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
A part of the issue with stopping Riordan (11-1, 2-0 WCAL) is they arrive at you in waves. Seven gamers scored at the least six factors for the Crusaders, and 5 reached double figures.
“We tell the guys, ‘Look, there’s no pacing yourself on this team.’” Curtin stated. “When you’re in the game, you’re going 100% all the time. Especially the guys at the end of the bench, we want to get them in the game at the end of the game. So it’s their responsibility to help their teammates and their buddies out and handle business, do what we have to do. And hopefully everybody gets to get in.”
Bellarmine (10-2, 1-1 WCAL) was confronted with an nearly unsolvable downside in attempting to comprise Riordan’s relentless assault. The Bells had a recreation plan they thought might give them an opportunity, however they couldn’t fairly pitch an ideal recreation.
“We stuck in there, and then their depth got us at the end,” stated Bellarmine coach Alex Sarrett. “Rebounding was a big factor. It’s something we stressed in the pregame huddle. The war of attrition there got the best of us. But I’m proud of our guys’ effort. Some guys stepped up and hit some shots. Stuff to build on going into the next part of the league season.”
Riordan’s Ryder Bush #5 loses management of the ball whereas guarded by Bellarmine’s Cam Razavi #4 within the fourth quarter of a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at Bellarmine School Preparatory in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
For Riordan, there’s a fortress upon which to construct. Positionally, the Crusaders lack nothing throughout the board. This season will in the end be outlined by what their uber-talented squad accomplishes in CCS and the NorCal regional event.
On Friday night time, they appeared the a part of the perfect group within the Bay Space.
“It’s about guys buying into their roles and accepting that they’re gonna have to sacrifice,” Curtin stated. “And everybody has to sacrifice. Even the guys that play the most minutes on the team, they’re sacrificing. They’re sacrificing shots. They (would) play the whole game on a typical high school team. So when they got to sit, they were there for their teammates and cheering their teammates on. When it comes down to it, we’re all in it together, and the ultimate goal is to win.”
Hilman led the Crusaders with 15 factors, and Pihtovs poured in 12 off the bench, giving Riordan a spark to assist separate within the first half. Rencher contributed a breezy 11 factors.
Riordan’s JP Pihtovs #21 dunks towards Bellarmine in a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
Emeneke added 11 because the Crusaders dominated the publish all night time lengthy.
“Their size is overwhelming at the rim,” Sarrett stated. “Problem is, you got to get the rebounds on the misses. I thought we did a good job staying in front, trying to make it tough for them. And then the boards killed us. If they’re getting transition runouts and we’re not scoring on our end of the floor, it’s tough. It’s tough taking the ball out of the net every time and getting into offense.”
Bellarmine will proceed to construct as WCAL play carries on, looking for to mould a younger group right into a contender within the rugged basketball league. Ethan Lyles led the Bells with 14 factors, whereas Will Corbett and Cam Razavi chipped in seven apiece.
“We have the perspective of even the worst team in the league, if you have an off night, they can pop you at their place, you know?” Sarrett stated. “So we’re growing as a team to try to have the maturity to step into those environments and be successful. But we have to play good games.”
For Riordan, it’s onward and upward within the pursuit of championships.
“We stick to the same routine,” Curtin stated. “We have a formula. We stick to it. And I think that helps. We don’t look ahead at all. I tell these guys at the beginning of the season, we lay out what we want to do, and then we just focus on the day, and we focus on the next opponent.
“As long as we don’t stray from that, we’re consistent, and that’s what matters. If we stay consistent with it, they get back in the groove. They get back on track. That’s why we don’t really drop too many games. If we do drop a game whenever, we’re not dropping two in a row. We get back on track pretty fast.”
Riordan head coach Joe Curtin talks to his group throughout a timeout in a WCAL basketball recreation at Bellarmine, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group) 
Riordan’s JP Pihtovs #21 dunks towards Bellarmine in a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group) 
Riordan’s Jasir Rencher drives the baseline for a dunk towards Bellarmine within the fourth quarter of a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group) 
Riordan’s Kirby Seals #10 scores towards Bellarmine within the first half of a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group) 
Riordan’s Nes Emeneke #23 blocks a shot by Bellarmine’s Will Corbett JJ Barton #34 within the first half of a WCAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Printed: January 10, 2025 at 11:32 PM PST
