LEGACY TIP-OFF: Clark makes statement, wins championship over Centennial

With one statement tournament win, the Clark boys basketball team proved it belongs in Class 4A.

This year the Chargers moved up to the state’s top division after winning the last three Division 1-A (now Class 3A) state titles. To open their new era, they competed in the Legacy Tip-Off Classic and won the championship Saturday night 67-56 over Centennial.

“I feel like we’re setting the tone,” Clark sophomore Ian Alexander said. “Someone to compete with, making a name for ourselves.”

Alexander’s 19 points led a team that up until the fourth quarter looked like it was going to need every basket. At halftime the Chargers led by just a point and were tied going into the fourth quarter.

But Clark saved its best basketball for the fourth quarter. The final frame was the game’s only one that featured one side scoring at least 20, and the Chargers scored 22.

“Coach always says, ‘Turn the faucet all the way on,’ ” Alexander said. “We basically turned the faucet all the way on and played really hard.”

Alexander was named tournament MVP, which included a 22-point outburst earlier Saturday against Lutheran (Colo.) to reach the finals.

“Words can’t describe how good Ian has been for us,” coach Colin Darfour said. “Ian’s contribution hasn’t been rivaled by anyone on our team or anyone on any other team.”

Clark opened its season with the Legacy Tip-Off Classic and is now 4-0 in its first season in the state’s highest division for high school sports. Capping the tournament with a win over a team like Centennial, that has won back-to-back Northwest League titles, helps solidify the Chargers’ place as a legitimate contender in the Sunset Region.

Darfour disagrees. He points to Clark’s history at the lower division and said the Chargers were already there, and will be the rest of the season.

“There were a lot of teams on the 3A side that were 4A-worthy,” Darfour said. “There’s not much difference.”

Clark 72, Lutheran (Colo.) 51 — Alexander scored 22 and Trey Woodbury scored 18 as the Chargers defeated Lutheran.

Will Willis led Lutheran with 17 points.

Centennial 70, Knight (Calif.) 55 — Troy Brown had 26 points for the Bulldogs as they took down Knight.

Darian Scott had 13 points, and Alijah Henderson scored 12 for Centennial.

Jordan Brown had 14 points, and Dajour Lewis scored 10 for Knight.

Legacy 74, Silverado 70 — D’Eric Marlowe led all scorers with 22 points as the Longhorns edged the Skyhawks.

Tyrell Nolan scored 12, and Chris White supplied 11 points for the Longhorns.

Caden Farley led Silverado with 18 points. Jonathan Francis scored 14 and Devin Ross 12 for the Skyhawks.

Shadow Ridge 79, Robert Bateman (Canada) 62 — The Mustangs placed three players in double figures to earn the win.

Isaiah Williams scored 15, and James Fuller and Bricin Ford each had 14 points for Shad0w Ridge.

Darius Yakimission scored 21 and Nate Friessen 20 for Robert Bateman.

Shadow Ridge 69, Canyon View (Utah) 51 — Four players scored in double figures for the Mustangs as they took down Canyon View.

Isaiah Williams led Shadow Ridge with 19 points. Bricin Ford and Obi Okafor each scored 16, and James Fuller added 10 [points for the Mustangs. Shadow Ridge was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Joey Lambeth scored 14 for Canyon View, and teammate Brantzen Blacker had 10 points.

Coral Academy 82, Mojave 75 — Isaiah Spears and Isaac Spears each had 21 pointsas the Falcons downed the Rattlers.

Ryan Djino added 15 points for Coral Academy, which scored 28 pionts in the fourth quarter.

Zachary Hammer had 13 points, and Adam Abdalla scored 10 for the Falcons.

J.D. McCormick led Mojave with 29 points. Jonathan Rodriguez and Tyrique Watson each supplied 15 points for the Rattlers.

Coral Academy 72, Valley 66 — Isaiah Spears led all scorers with 27 points as the Falcons took down the Vikings.

Djino scored 14 for the Falcons, and Isaac Spears had 12 points. Abdalla and Hammer each scored 10 for Coral Academy.

Tommy Anderson had 14 points for Valley, and teammate John King scored 11.

Legacy 66, Clovis East (Calif.) 61 — Trejon Brice had 20 points to lead the Longhorns to victory over Clovis East.

Tyrell Nolen and Quentin Brewster each added 13 points for Legacy, and teammate Chris White scored 10.

Spencer Matthes led all scorers with 23 points for Clovis East.

Green Valley 66, Robert Bateman (Canada) 58 — Canyon Lewis scored 15 points as the Gators topped Robert Bateman.

Steven Fojas added 14 points for Green Valley, which shot 9 of 11 from the free-throw line (82 percent).

Robert Bateman’s Greg Poirier led all scorers with 21 points.

Clovis East (Calif.) 72, Silverado 47 — Jaime Antondo scored 21 to lead Clovis East over the Skyhawks.

Spencer Matthes added 10 points for Clovis East.

Devin Ross and Martell Williams each supplied 11 points for Silverado.

Valley 59, Mojave 47 — Oscar Burns and Juan De Dios-Magana each scored 13 to carry the Vikings over the Rattlers.

Watson scored 11 for Mojave.

Canyon View (Utah) 49, Green Valley 45 — Brantzen Blackner’s 23 points led all scorers as Canyon View defeated the Gators.

Lewis led the Gators with 22 points.