Johnson’s late bucket lifts CSM Bulldogs over Skyline 67-64

Skyline (0-3 Coast North, 8-9 overall)  led at halftime and by as many as 14 points, 43-29, with 14:50 remaining in the game.

“We did a good job closing it out,” CSM coach Mike Marcial said. “Johnson made huge plays down the stretch.”

Johnson, who tallied 16 of his team-leading 20 points in the second half, and 10 of the game’s final 18, started the comeback with a steal and layup to inaugurate a 13-2 run that narrowed the gap to 45-43 with 10:08 to play. But San Mateo remained behind until the final minute.

Skyline maintained the lead, with conference scoring leader Zidane Auzarang in control. The freshman guard out of San Mateo High tallied 29 points, 19 in the first half, and had six 3-pointers. His steal and layup gave the Trojans a 59-51 lead, with just under five minutes left.

CSM guard Aleccio Blythe ignited a seven-point rally with a 3-pointer at the 2:48 mark, followed by a Johnson steal and layup that made narrowed it to 61-58. Jeremy Pierro stole another ball from the Trojans and produced a lay-in that made it 61-60 with 1:41 remaining.

Skyline ran the clock and Auzarang netted a 3 as the possession timer expired for a 64-60 advantage going into the final minute of play.  CSM freshman guard Ben Liang, who had eight of his 11 points in the second half, responded with a CSM 3-pointer with 48 seconds left – setting up Johnson’s steal on the ensuring inbound for the winning basket.

Johnson, a 6-5 sophomore wing out of Fresno’s Bullard High School, also had a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left for the final margin.   

In Wednesday’s other local Coast North game, Cañada (0-3, 6-11) fell just a point short at De Anza (1-2, 7-10), 90-89.

Skyline, CSM women both win Wednesday

The Trojans and Bulldogs continue to lead the Coast North in women’s basketball following easy triumphs Wednesday.

Skyline (2-0 Coast North, 13-5 overall) defeated visiting Foothill (0-2, 2-15), 81-47. Nia Rogers scored 24 points and Jahzara Pratt had 21 points and nine assists to lead Skyline.

CSM (2-0, 7-11) defeated Chabot College (0-1, 2-16), 67-52 in Hayward. The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to quick leads of 23-8 after one quarter and 38-15 at halftime.