Notre Dame’s Piedra Proves Again He’s a Hart Breaker

SYLMAR —  The Notre Dame High boys’ basketball team should take along senior guard Jorge Piedra whenever the Knights play Hart.

For the second time this summer, Piedra beat the Indians with a last-second shot as he made a three-point basket with three seconds to play to give Notre Dame a 61-60 victory in the “War on the Floor” tournament Saturday at Sylmar High.

The Knights, who won three games Saturday to improve to 3-3 in the tournament, will play Rolling Hills Prep in the losers’ bracket consolation final at 8:10 tonight. Notre Dame reached the final by defeating Valencia, 50-47. Valencia missed a free throw and two shots off offensive rebounds in the last six seconds.

Notre Dame trailed Hart, 60-58, when Piedra stole a pass with 32 seconds left and sank the decisive three-pointer. He scored 31 points, including five three-pointers.

Earlier this summer in the Crespi tournament, Notre Dame beat Hart by a basket thanks to a last-second layup by Piedra.

“I love it,” Piedra said. “These kind of games are fun. It’s the reason why I play.”

Hart forward Cory Johnson matched Piedra with 31 points. The Indians played without starting guards J.T. Stotts and Jerry Owens.

Rolling Hills Prep 53, Alemany 49--Jesus Castillon scored 19 points and Justin Savitt had 12 in a losing effort for the Indians.

Valencia 51, Montclair Prep 38--Eskias McDaniels and Marc Sison each scored 13 points to lead the Vikings.

Alemany 56, Cleveland 51--Ryan Spencer scored 12 points, all on three-point baskets in the second half, to spark the Indians to a come-from-behind victory.

Rolling Hills Prep 49, Burbank 47--Juni Williams scored a team-high 15 points for the Bulldogs but was called for a double dribble with two seconds left and the score tied, 47-47. Robert Davis, who finished with a game-high 21 points, took the inbounds pass and hit a short bank shot at the buzzer.

Alemany 56, St. John Bosco 45--DeJon Lee scored 15 points and Castillon added 13 for the Indians, who led throughout.

Montclair Prep 67, Granada Hills 44--Rocky Steryo scored 24 points and the Mounties used a 24-7 surge in the first 10 minutes of the second half to break it open.

Rolling Hills Prep 51, Chatsworth 35--Monte McFarland scored 14 points for Chatsworth, but the Chancellors were eliminated.