The boys basketball team was going along in Friday's CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship game at Power Balance Pavilion, but was looking to put away a pesky Central Catholic team.
Then Cougars senior guard Tanner Nissen hit a three-point shot at the end of the of the third quarter and senior forward Matt Donlan threw down a slam dunk early in the fourth, the signature plays in an impressive 64-50 win over the Raiders from Modesto.
With the win, Capital Christian earned its first-ever section title in basketball, thanks to 22 points and six rebounds from Donlan and 15 points and seven rebounds from sophomore power forward Nifae Lealao.
"We've got a young group but some fine upperclassmen that led us tonight," said Cougars coach Terry Battenberg, a local coaching legend whose previous stops included in Carmichael. "I feel great they were able to win the championship tonight."
The Cougars played consistently most of the game, with Donlan going 3-for-6 from behind the arc and Lealao muscling his way inside the paint.
"My teammates were able to get me open tonight and I tried to knock down shots, Donlan said. "Without my teammates, we couldn't have come out with the win."
The season ended on a strong note for the Cougars boys, unlike .
"Things happen for a reason," said Phil Oates, last year's head coach who is now an assistant with the Cougars.
The boys basketball section title joins the .
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BOYS BASKETBALL SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION V Friday's championship at Power Balance Pavilion
CAPITAL CHRISTIAN 64, CENTRAL CATHOLIC 50
Central Catholic 10 14 14 12 – 50
Capital Christian 20 15 14 15 – 64
CEN–Bland 12, Fenton 15, N.Loya 2, Wilson 11, Townsend 5, Boddie 3, A.Loya 2. CAP–Belton 4, Wilson 11, Jennings 3, Donlan 22, Perry 4, Ware 2, Nissen 3, Lealao 15.
