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Santa Rosa Academy punched its ticket to the second round of the boys basketball CIF-SS playoffs with a 69-53 win over CAMS (California Academy of Math & Science) on Wednesday night.
The game had a wild start. The Rangers scored the first four, CAMS answered with six straight, and it went back and forth early. The momentum really shifted when Cory Moore caught fire. Moore is ranked top 10 in the state in 3-point shots made; he hit three straight from deep and helped SRA build an eight-point lead going into halftime. He finished with 24 points, including five 3s.
The Rangers had great balance all night. Mycah Mason and Christian Gonzalez each added 14 points. Weston Ruprich was big with three 3-point shots, all at crucial moments, and the interior and exterior defense made a huge difference down the stretch.
Elijah Brewer had key moments in forcing turnovers and making it difficult for the opposition’s main player to get into any rhythm down the stretch. Josiah Pena had a season-high six blocks protecting the rim and Tanner Strandt came up with some big defensive stops late in the fourth to help close it out.
CAMS cut it to four points in the third, but the Rangers’ defense and shot-making down the stretch sealed it.
Santa Rosa is back at home Friday at 7 p.m. against Rosemead with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.
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