Notre Dame junior Tyran Stokes, right, makes contact with Sierra Canyon senior Bryce Cofield under the hoop on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon senior Bryce Cofield scores on a jumper in the first half against Notre Dame on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in the Trinity – Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame junior Tyran Stokes makes an acrobatic shot attempt against Sierra Canyon on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame junior Tyran Stokes, right, tries to get a shot off against Sierra Canyon senior Bryce James on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame junior Zachary White drives towards the basket on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action against Sierra Canyon at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon junior Maximo Adams (25) is fouled while shooting by Notre Dame junior Tyran Stokes in the first quarter on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame’s Tyran Stokes, right, and Mark Lewis disagree with a foul call in the second quarter on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Bryce Cofield, right, waves his arms on defense against Notre Dame’s NaVorro Bowman on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon senior guard Gavin Hightower advances the ball to the forecourt on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in the Trailblazers’ 63-54 win over Notre Dame in the Trinity – Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon senior Bryce Cofield (12) scores over Notre Dame’s Josiah Nance in first half action on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in the Trinity – Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame head coach Matt Sargeant shows frustration with a call on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action against Sierra Canyon at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame and Sierra Canyon compete on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in the Trinity – Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon senior Bryce Cofield drives to the basket in the first half against Notre Dame on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in the Trinity – Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame junior Tyran Stokes, right, is defended by Sierra Canyon junior Maximo Adams in second half play on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in the Trinity – Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Notre Dame junior Tyran Stokes, right, makes contact with Sierra Canyon senior Bryce Cofield under the hoop on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, in Mission League action at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
INGLEWOOD — After a day full of high school boys basketball that highlighted some of the best teams in the area, Sierra Canyon and Notre Dame capped the evening with a Mission League clash at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night.
The featured game of the Trinity-Mission League Showcase came with important implications — the winner would earn the No. 2 seed and an automatic berth to the semifinals of the Mission League Tournament, which is set to begin Sunday.
Notre Dame got out to an early 9-2 lead, as top junior prospect Tyran Stokes scored six quick points.
But Sierra Canyon’s patented defense kicked into gear in the second quarter, swarming to the ball, intercepting passes and getting deflections.
The Trailblazers’ defense fueled their offense, giving them better opportunities on the fast break and allowing them to better break down Notre Dame’s defense before they could get set in the halfcourt.
Sierra Canyon defeated Notre Dame 63-54 to earn the No. 2 seed in the Mission League Tournament behind that strong defensive effort in addition to Gavin Hightower’s 21 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The 54 points Notre Dame scored was just one point better than its season low of 53.
“We do jumping jacks every day. We really pride ourselves on being in the passing lanes, being on early help, because we feel like we’re one of the best defensive teams in the country,” said Hightower, who was awarded the game MVP trophy. “We just take a lot of pride in our defense and work on it every day in practice. And we just want to come out here and show we’re the best defensive team.”
“That’s our main thing when we come to the games — lock up their best players, know the scout. We hang our hat on that,” said Bryce Cofield, who finished with 15 points and six rebounds. “Rotate, help each other, and just be one mind on the court.”
The Trailblazers looked like they were playing with a giddy-up in their step, feeding off the crowd’s energy.
But much like Cofield’s on-court demeanor — one of a controlled passion — Sierra Canyon kept its cool in the big moments, finishing the game strong by making free throws and locking down Notre Dame on defense.
“Obviously it’s a pretty big win for our season going forward, like our seeding and stuff like that, but I feel like games like this are normal to us,” said Cofield. “We take every game as if it’s at the Intuit Dome, a lot of fans, we take every game as if it’s that. So I feel like it’s a pretty normal feeling for us.”
Maxi Adams added 18 points and seven rebounds and played solid defense on Stokes, not giving him easy looks at the basket and forcing him to earn his points at the free-throw line.
Stokes finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Sierra Canyon finishes the regular season with a 20-4 overall record and a 6-1 Mission League record.
As the No. 3 seed in the Mission League Tournament, Notre Dame gets a first-round bye and will play at home on Monday. The Knights finish the regular season with a 20-5 overall record and 5-2 Mission League record.
