CIF Division I state final preview: Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks might be the favorite, but can anybody stop Granada’s Andrew McKeever?
Late on Tuesday night, after his team punched a ticket to the CIF Division I state championship against Granada on Friday in Sacramento, Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks coach Matt Sargeant started watching film.
He watched six games of tape on Granada, a school that is playing in its first-ever state final, and Sargeant knew quickly what it would take to win.
“We’ve been preaching rebounding all year long,” Sargeant said. “We’re undersized.”
Rebounding was at the core of what Salesian coach Bill Mellis wanted to see from his squad against Granada, too, but with the Matadors’ 7-foot senior center and Saint Mary’s commit Andrew McKeever reaching over the crowd to gobble up rebounds on both ends, it’s been a struggle for other teams to match up.
“I don’t think anyone matches up with them, that’s the thing,” Mellis said after Granada’s 60-47 win on Tuesday secured the Matadors’ spot in the state championship game.
It’s all about McKeever for Granada, which could match up well against Notre Dame, a team that doesn’t start a single player taller than 6-foot-5 senior point guard and Duke commit Caleb Foster.
“We basically start five guards,” Sargeant said. “I started a freshman who is 6-foot-5 at a center position, but it’s not really a center position. If we rebound, we win.”
And while McKeever is still finding his touch around the basket — he was just 4-for-12 from the floor despite having at least 6 inches over everybody on the Salesian side on Tuesday night — his presence as a rebounder and shot-blocker is enough for opposing coaches to get worried.
Sargeant noticed one other thing: “He’s a phenomenal passer.”
It was the key for Granada in the NorCal final, when McKeever was getting double- and triple-teamed but often found open guys, like senior guard Kevin Grant, who went 4-for-5 from 3-point range, and senior wing Tyler Harris, who scored a game-high 18 points.
Between Harris and McKeever, the Matadors have two guys capable of crashing the boards and dominating the rebound game.
“It does take a lot off my guards when we attack, we know we have guys going after the rebounds trying to get one back in,” said Granada’s fifth-year coach, Quaran Johnson.
Still, Notre Dame might be considered the favorites after an overwhelming 80-61 win against Sierra Canyon, ending the high school career of Bronny James.
Notre Dame went 4-0 against Sierra Canyon this season. The Knights also beat Dougherty Valley, 65-53, in a January matchup.
Meanwhile, Dougherty Valley went 3-0 against Granada, though all three games were decided by seven points or fewer.
Asked about the pressure of being considered the favorite, Sargeant said, “Given our roster and our schedule, we’ve had eyes on us all year long and high expectations all year long. So this is nothing new.”
Friday’s matchup could be the start of a budding rivalry between McKeever, who will be suiting up for the Gaels next year, and Notre Dame senior Dusty Stromer, who will be playing for Gonzaga.
“I’m sure he’ll enjoy that,” Sargeant said of Stromer.
In addition to Foster and Stromer, the Knights have a third D-I commit in Houston-bound Mercy Miller.
“There’s no ego amongst any of them,” Sargeant said. “They’ve had to figure out how to play with one another.”
Granada could end up with two D-I players, depending on what happens with Harris, who said he’ll make a decision after Friday’s game.
It’s sure to be the biggest test of Granada’s season.
Said McKeever, “We started slow, lost a couple games in the league, got better in the league playoffs, got better in NCS, and we just keep progressing.”