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SAN BERNARDINO — It’s much too early for the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA boys basketball playoffs, but the final two games of the 64th annual Kiwanis Tournament’s final two games provided a preview of what the future might hold.
Eisenhower and Fontana both played tough defensively, with Eisenhower earning a 49-46 victory to win the championship at Arroyo Valley High School on Thursday evening. Both of those teams are in Division 4AA for the section playoffs, and so are Arrowhead Christian and Redlands, the tournament’s third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively.
Eisenhower coach Sean Hardge and his family are an example of the tradition in the tournament. His father, Arthur, played for San Bernardino High School during the 1960s. His son, Sean Jr., started for Eisenhower in Thursday night’s game.
“It’s the first time Eisenhower has played in the tournament in six years.” Coach Hardge said. “I remember coming to the tournament when I was little.”
Eisenhower (9-7) defeated Fontana (10-6) by 13 points in a nonleague game two weeks ago, but the Steelers presented a rougher challenge this time.
“They scouted us well and put tough pressure on the ball,” said Hardge, who is in his first season in charge of the program. “They denied our shooters, and they had a couple of players who just became eligible.”
There were four lead changes during the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. Eisenhower took the lead for good when Kameron Gardner, the tournament’s MVP, hit a 3-point shot to give the Eagles a 43-41 lead two minutes into the quarter.
Stanley Thomas III made a free throw with 4:12 remaining, putting the Eagles in front by three points. Zyere Johnson-Curry tightened the game by making two free throws for Fontana 12 seconds later.
Thomas hit a 3-point shot with just over a minute left, but Jesus Avalos answered with a three-pointer for Fontana to cut the deficit to 47-46. Fontana forced a turnover with 13.5 seconds left, and Steelers coach Mel Wilkins designed what he thought was a game-winning play.
“We had a back door play set,” Wilkins said. “If we execute it, it’s a basket but we threw the ball away.”
Gardner added two free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining to seal the deal.
“We’re trying to build a program,” Wilkins said. “We finished fifth last year and are second this year. We are moving in the right direction.”
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