Price 69, Immanuel 59-- Chris Alexander and Jermaine Jamerson scored a combined 40 points to lead the Knights over the Crusaders at The Pyramid.  Oscar Edwards had 11 rebounds as Price outrebounded Immanuel, 44-34. Ryan Jackson led Immanuel with 23 points.

Fresno Bee

Immanuel High paid the "Price" for a slow start.  

Despite some spirited rallies, the Eagles could not overcome an unusually cold opening and lost 69-59 to top-seeded Price (Los Angeles) in the Southern Region Division 5 boys' final Saturday at the Pyramid. 

There was some impressive 3-point shooting in the fourth quarter. There was evidence of grit against a quicker, more athletic team throughout.  

But Immanuel simply couldn't overcome missing its first 11 shots and failing to score in the first 5:21 as Price rocked to a 10-0 lead. 

"I believe, if we had shot the ball the way we can, it would have been a different game," Immanuel coach John Thiesen said. 

Possibly, it was the open court at the arena on the Long Beach State campus, certainly a different atmosphere than the comfortable gym at Immanuel.  

"It is a little different look than we've seen," Immanuel senior Ryan Jackson said. 

Thiesen added, "There were shots we usually make." 

Despite the poor shooting and having a 17-game winning streak snapped, the Eagles made a solid impression on the Knights, who advance to Friday's state championship at Sacramento's ARCO Arena. 

"We got a little complacent a couple of times, but then we had to keep going," said Price forward Jermain Jamerson, who scored 19 points but will give up basketball after this season to play football at Fresno State. 

Price coach Michael Lynch said, "At this point of the season, nobody is going to give up. We have a lot of respect for that team." 

In the second quarter, Immanuel cut Price's lead to 18-14, but a 3-point play by Jamerson and a free throw by Khalief Washington made it 28-21 at halftime. Despite shooting 8 for 31, the Eagles still were in the game. 

Price, however, dominated the third quarter and seemed to have the game locked up with a 51-33 lead going into the fourth,  Nic Heinrichs sparked an Immanuel rally with two baskets, and Kyle Medeiros converted a 3-point play as the Eagles sliced their deficit to 55-43. Chris Alexander, who led the Knights with 21 points, stopped the run with a fadeaway jumper, and Price regained control, getting the lead to 61-43. 

Immanuel came back again, this time ignited by long-range shooting from Jackson, who went 4 for 5 from 3-point range in the final 2:29 and finished with 23 points.

The Eagles pulled within nine points, but Price finally was able to take out its starters with 39.9 seconds remaining. 

"These guys have no quit in them," Thiesen said of his team. 

What the Eagles did not have in a game against superior athletes, was their best athlete. Jacob Wild was relegated to cheerleading from the bench because officials would not allow him to play with a cast on his right hand, the result of a broken thumb in Tuesday's first round. 

It made a difference, Heinrichs said, especially in Price's 44-34 rebounding edge that seemed much more lopsided.

"To be honest, it meant a lot to not have Jacob," Heinrichs said. "He was averaging 13 rebounds a game, and that is 13 more rebounds we would have had and Price wouldn't have had." 

Altheimer propels St. Elizabeth to final

By David Schoen
staff writer

STOCKTON -- Bakari Altheimer didn't know what to do. 

The senior standout guard for the St. Elizabeth High boys basketball was all alone with time winding down and the ball in his hands. 

Pull it out? Lay it in? Or cap it off with a roof-raising slam? 

"Everyone wanted me to dunk it, but my legs were gone so at the last minute I said forget it and layed it up," Altheimer said. 

It's all right Bakari, you're forgiven. Altheimer did everything but throw down a jam on Saturday at Delta College, scoring 28 points and lifting the Cinderella Mustangs into the CIF Division V state championship game with a convincing 60-39 win over Capital Christian of Sacramento. 

St. Elizabeth (23-12) takes on Price at 4 p.m. Friday at Arco Arena in Sacramento. It is the first appearance for the Mustangs in the title game since they won it all in 1996. 

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little surprised, but at the same time we expected to be here," said Altheimer, who hit 11 of 19 shots to go along with three rebounds and three steals. "We're all competitors and we're all winners." 

The Santa Clara-bound Altheimer was easily the most dominant player on the floor. The Cougars (25-8) tried every- thing to slow him down, but nothing worked as Altheimer scored 14 first-half points and sparked a 12-0 run that helped St. Elizabeth to a 29-17 halftime advantage. 

Even a double-team in the third quarter couldn't slow Altheimer down as he continually found teammates who drained open looks. 

"When we need a play, we go to Bakari," senior Alejandro Nuno said. "I told Bakari to take it at them and he did. He was too much." 

Capital Christian presented problems for the smaller Mustangs with 6-foot-5 juniors Chris Thornton and Joe Mitchell. Miguel Daggs and Adebola Odunikan fronted the two inside while Altheimer, Scott Greene, Nuno and the other guards dropped down and gave help on the weak side. 

Thornton had 19 points and nine rebounds, while Mitchell added nine points and 11 boards, but no one else for the Cougars made St. Elizabeth pay from the outside. 

"We slowed them down and that's what we wanted to do," said Daggs, who was prepared for the challenge after seeing the likes of Oakland Tech and Modesto Christian this season. "We didn't let them take over the game."  

Capital Christian made a run in the third quarter, getting to within 11 points on three occasions. But Altheimer drained a NBA-range 3-pointer for a 42-28 lead and Tony De Leon added a 17-foot jumper that made it 44-28 with 55seconds left in the third quarter.

Nuno nailed a 17-footer to open the fourth and Greene 4-of-4 from line in final 2:10 as the Mustangs pulled away late. 

"We jelled at the right time," Altheimer said. "Everyone on this team has heart. I think heart gets you a lot of places."  

Like the state championship game.