Christian fights back for overtime win against Poway: 3 observations

Strong second-half defense led Christian to a 62-59 overtime victory over sixth-ranked Poway on Saturday

4S Ranch—Strong second-half defense led Christian to a 62-59 overtime victory over sixth-ranked Poway on Saturday at the New Year’s Tip-off Classic.

Below are three observations from the game:

Cal Poly-signee Kobe Sanders

THIRD QUARTER DEFENSE:

After an even first fifteen minutes in Saturday’s game,
Poway made a couple plays in the quarter’s last minute to head into the
halftime break with a six-point lead.

“Well we knew we could get control of the game,”
Christian senior Kobe Sanders said. “We just needed a couple shots to fall
down.”

Christian did that and more in the third quarter, one that
saw them allow only six points and take a one-point lead into the fourth
quarter.

“We needed to tighten up on defense, it was really a team effort.”
Sanders said.

THE EXTRA PERIOD:

It was a roller coaster last couple minutes that saw each
team answer shot for shot to either tie the game or take the lead.

“Kobe Price hit a big shot for us down the line and we
really needed every teammate,” Sanders said. “We just needed to get stops, rebound
the ball, and slow it down. We needed to play our game.”

Kobe Sanders and sophomore Vinny Signorelli each hit big
three-pointers for Christian that temporarily gave the Patriots the lead until
Adam Sevier and Garrett Pyle answered at the other end for Poway.

Christian's Dasean Lynch

SIGNATURE WIN:

Christian entered Saturday with a 13-2 record having only
been defeated by St. Augustine and Foothills Christian, the county’s top two
teams. The Patriots were lacking a victory against a top ten team.

That’s what they got against Poway.

“This is probably our biggest win.” Sanders said postgame.
The Cal-Poly-signee had 16 points for Christian.

Senior guard Jake Tawhiao led Christian with 20 points.

Senior point guard Adam Sevier led Poway with 22 points.

Poway played without senior contributors Tanner Swindall, Lucas Shepherd, and Logan Shepherd.