LONG BEACH \u2014 The St. Anthony boys basketball team knew what was on the line. They were 32 minutes away from sole possession of first place in the Del Rey League on their quest to defend the program\u2019s league title.<\/p>\n
The Saints trailed 42-35 at the end of the third quarter but responded with a 10-0 run, including eight straight points by senior forward Esten Wilson, to take a 45-42 lead early in the fourth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely felt great to hear the crowd and get my team going,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
However, they could not sustain the defensive effort and later allowed an 11-0 run in crunch time in a 61-56 loss at home against St. Monica in a Del Rey League game at Errion Gym in Long Beach on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur league is unpredictable,\u201d St. Anthony coach Alan Mitchell said. \u201cSo the message is first and foremost, accept what happened, learn from it, correct it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Saints, who also allowed a 15-0 run over eight minutes in the first half, dropped to 13-9 overall and 3-2 in the Del Rey League. They were seeking redemption after opening league play with a 56-46 loss to St. Monica on Jan. 2.<\/p>\n
Wilson led St. Anthony with 11 of his team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter. \u00a0Saints freshman guard Mychal McQueen scored 10 points.<\/p>\n
St. Anthony\u2019s late surge began when junior guard J.R. Quinn Jr. muscled his way to the basket to cut it to 42-37 early in the fourth. Quinn\u2019s assist to Wilson cut it to 42-39. Consecutive corner 3-pointers by Wilson tied the game at 42 and later put the Saints up 45-42, which was the team\u2019s first lead since late in the first quarter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to keep that going,\u201d Wilson continued. \u201cWe can\u2019t let that fire dwindle down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson made 1 of 2 technical free throws to make it 46-44.<\/p>\n
St. Monica responded and went on an 11-0 run to go up 55-46 with less than 90 seconds to go.<\/p>\n
Quinn\u2019s three-point play cut St. Monica\u2019s lead to 58-54 with 23.4 seconds to go. However, the Mariners made 3 of 4 free throws to go up 61-54 with 7.3 seconds left. Quinn\u2019s layup as time expired made it 61-56.<\/p>\n
St. Monica improved to 15-8 overall and 4-1 in the Del Rey League. Junior guard Garvey Blakes led the Mariners with 16 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Bryce Iwuoha had 15 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Juju Patterson added 15 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just trying to build it brick by brick,\u201d said St. Monica coach Allen Caveness, who coached at St. Anthony from 2014-21. \u201cWe only have one returner. We have a bunch of young guys. Most of our guys are transfers or junior varsity kids. We only have two seniors on the roster, so I\u2019m proud of them for gutting this out.\u201d<\/p>\n
McQueen\u2019s 3-pointer put St. Anthony up 3-0 on the opening possession. Senior guard Trystan Burtado corner 3-pointer off a driving assist by junior guard Jamil House put the Saints up 6-0 with 6:44 left in the first quarter.<\/p>\n
St. Monica sophomore guard Dylan Alexander\u2019s 3-pointer made it 6-3. Iwuoha\u2019s layup made it 6-5, and he made 1 of 2 free throws, tying it at 6.<\/p>\n
St. Anthony junior guard Marinio Elissaint made 1 of 2 free throws to go up 7-6. Sophomore forward Josh Montez made both free throws to go up 9-6 midway through the first.<\/p>\n
However, St. Monica closed the first on a 6-0 run. St. Anthony trailed 12-9 heading into the second quarter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first quarter we missed five layups and only had nine points,\u201d Coach Mitchell explained. \u201cYou make four of those layups, it\u2019s a different ball game.\u201d<\/p>\n
St. Monica kept rolling and extended its surge to a 15-0 run to go up 21-9 with 5:40 left in the second quarter. The Saints were held scoreless for nearly eight minutes between the first and the second quarters.<\/p>\n
St. Anthony sophomore guard Jayden White\u2019s layup broke the scoring drought and made it 21-11 with 4:37 left in the first half. Elissaint\u2019s layup off another nifty assist from House cut it to 21-13.<\/p>\n
Junior guard Tylan Kinsey\u2019s offensive board and layup cut it to 23-17.<\/p>\n
House was fouled and made both free throws to make it 25-19 at halftime.<\/p>\n
St. Anthony\u2019s next Del Rey League game will be at St. Bernard on Jan. 28. The Saints will host St. Paul on Jan. 30 and conclude league play at rival St. Pius X-St. Matthias on Feb. 2.<\/p>\n
St. Anthony boys basketball head coach Alan Mitchell talks about his team\u2019s fight in the fourth quarter of a 61-56 loss at home to St. Monica for first place in the Del Rey League. @AlanMitchellP3<\/a> also talks about @EstenWilson<\/a>\u2019s big fourth quarter and what it is going to take\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/v8BjC4jvtD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n St. Anthony senior forward Esten Wilson on scoring 11 of his team-high 13 points in the 4th quarter. @EstenWilson<\/a> scored 8 straight points during his team\u2019s 10-0 run to start the 4th quarter, which gave them a 45-42 lead.<\/p>\n St. Anthony would go on to lose 61-56 to St. Monica. pic.twitter.com\/zABEBolZKI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n St. Monica boys basketball head coach Allen Caveness on his team\u2019s 61-56 victory on the road against St. Anthony. <\/p>\n Coach Caveness was the head coach of the St. Anthony boys basketball program from 2014 until 2021. pic.twitter.com\/4xvWVcGXT9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Final: St. Monica 61, St. Anthony 56.<\/p>\n The Mariners are now in sole possession of first place in the Del Rey League. <\/p>\n The Saints trailed 42-35 at the end of the third quarter but used a 10-0 run to take a 45-42 lead early in the fourth quarter but could not hold on for the win. pic.twitter.com\/rG2HISRGct<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t