Jones Isn’t Perfect, but He’ll Keep On Trying

IRVINE — Nick Jones can go home and relax now.

Kick back on the sofa. Watch a little TV. Maybe even--gasp--rent a movie.

More likely than not, the swingman from Santa Clara High will do none of the above, even though the Saints defeated Pasadena Poly, 75-52, to win the Southern Section Division V-AA boys’ basketball championship Friday at the UC Irvine Bren Center.

The postgame ritual will remain the same for Jones, who topped his career high for the second consecutive game, this time scoring 36 points, including a perfect nine-for-nine shooting in the second half.

“I’m going to go home, work out, watch a tape of the game and see what I was doing wrong,” Jones said. “I have a long way to go right now, really.”

Really?

Jones, who scored 34 points Tuesday in a 77-56 semifinal victory over Pacific Hills, was deadly in almost every aspect against top-seeded Pasadena Poly (27-1).

The UC Santa Barbara-bound Jones made 14 of 21 shots, including all four of his three-point attempts, and propelled the Saints on an 18-5 third-quarter run that effectively ended the game.

Jones scored 13 points during that span, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer that put the Saints up, 50-33.

Teammate B.J. Ward, who has also signed with UC Santa Barbara, scored 16 points for the second-seeded Saints (26-3), who likely will get top seeding in the Southern Regional of the state Division V tournament, which begins Tuesday.

Pasadena Poly stayed close by employing an effective zone that slowed down the game until midway through the third quarter.

The Panthers trailed, 32-28, after a jumper by 6-7 center Koko Archibong, who scored 14 points.

“I’m thinking, hey, we’re right in it,” said Poly Coach Brad Hall.

They were, until Jones heated up, helping Santa Clara Coach Lou Cvijanovich win his 15th section championship.

“It’s not 15,” joked Cvijanovich, who is in his 41st season. “It’s 18. You’ve got to give me credit for those two baseball ones and that football one, too.”

Cvijanovich, who has contemplated retirement, could afford to be jovial. He won his 824th game, extending his California record for victories by a boys’ basketball coach.

Taking it a little more seriously was Jones, who upon closer inspection did have two turnovers. Oh, and he missed a free throw.

“Right now, I’m not close to where I want to be,” Jones said. “No celebration yet.”