Westmont holds on for expensive life in opposition to San Mateo, punches ticket to CCS championship and NorCal event

CAMPBELL — For the primary time in 29 years, Westmont boys basketball is in a CCS championship sport.

This 12 months’s Warriors, who moved as much as the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mt. Hamilton Division this season after profitable the Santa Teresa-West final 12 months, have gone additional than any workforce from the Campbell faculty has in almost three many years.

It wasn’t straightforward. No. 2 Westmont constructed a 14-point lead late within the first half that visiting No. 3 San Mateo shrank to at least one on a number of events within the second half. 

However when the clock ran out after Zidane Auzerang’s 3-pointer introduced San Mateo inside a degree, Westmont had earned a 48-47 win, a ticket to the CIF NorCal event and a spot within the CCS Division II title matchup on Saturday.

Westmont’s Xavier Mizer (3) dribbles the ball in opposition to San Mateo’s Bryan Ehlerman (2) within the third quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) 

“We controlled the game pretty well, except for that third quarter,” stated Westmont coach John Franza. “Really happy for our kids. We have 10 seniors, and most of them have played together since sixth grade. This is a special group.”

The Warriors (20-7) took management of the sport after San Mateo (20-6) began out on a 8-2 run. From there, Westmont steadily prolonged its edge till it reached double digits.

However the Bearcats as soon as once more got here out of the locker room with a vengeance. The Warriors’ 11-point halftime lead rapidly dwindled to 6 factors, then 4, then one.

But Westmont by no means misplaced the lead. And with 10.2 seconds remaining and a 46-44 lead, junior heart Gabe Mathiesen sank two free throws to clinch the Warriors’ spot within the D-II championship.

Westmont’s Gabe Mathiesen (34) takes a shot in opposition to San Mateo’s Cameron Palma (24) within the first quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) 

“We were pretty good in the B league last year,” Franza stated. “I thought we could have success in the A league. I don’t want to say we ran through the league, but we were pretty successful. These kids play well together. We like to run set plays, and we’re pretty successful with them. They challenged us, but we never lost control.”

Now, Westmont can set its sights on Division II prime seed Christopher, a workforce it is aware of very effectively. The Warriors have confronted off in opposition to the Cougars thrice already this season.

In early December, Christopher gained 67-55 within the championship sport of a event at Westmont. In league play on Jan. 22 in Campbell, the Cougars beat the Warriors 61-59 in additional time.

On Feb. 14 in Gilroy, Christopher triumphed 54-41. Can Westmont creator a distinct ending within the fourth version?

Westmont’s Jacob Froman (0) takes a shot in opposition to San Mateo’s Cameron Palma (24) within the first quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) 

“It’s going to be tough,” Franza stated. “They’ve got good players, we’ve got good players. They’re so tough, well-coached. We’ve matched up against them in the past. We’re excited about making it to NorCals, which we did by winning tonight. But our kids really want a CCS championship. It’s been a long time since we’ve won one.”

Franza would know. He graduated from Westmont in 1976. The Warriors gained part titles in 1987 (Division II) and 1989 (Division III).

It’s been a little bit of a look forward to the following championship. However Franza thinks this workforce has the products to get it performed.

“We’ve been building this up since I came back in 2018,” stated Franza, who coached Westmont not lengthy after his commencement earlier than stepping away for a while. “We won the B league, moved up to the A league. This group is very connected. I’m looking forward to them now getting a chance to compete for a CCS title.”

Westmont’s Jacob Froman (0) takes a shot in opposition to San Mateo’s Grant Wolfgram (23) within the second quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) Westmont’s Matthew Taylor (13) takes a shot in opposition to San Mateo’s Trent Chan (11) within the second quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) San Mateo’s Zidane Auzarang (15) takes a shot in opposition to Westmont’s Gabe Mathiesen (34) within the third quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) Westmont’s Seth Reese (11) takes a shot in opposition to San Mateo’s Jon Chan (3) within the first quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) Westmont’s Jayden Saadieh (2) takes a shot in opposition to San Mateo’s Grant Wolfgram (23) within the second quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) San Mateo’s Grant Wolfgram (23) takes a shot in opposition to Westmont’s Matthew Taylor (13) within the third quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) San Mateo’s Manav Ejjalaghatta (34) takes a shot in opposition to Westmont within the fourth quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group) San Mateo’s Bryan Ehlerman (2) takes a shot in opposition to Westmont within the fourth quarter at Westmont Excessive Faculty in Campbell, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)