It’s not often that a program gets to claim a historic first, especially at a school like Canyon, which has accumulated championships in multiple sports over the years. However, on Friday night at Azusa Pacific University, Canyon’s boys’ basketball team achieved a milestone, winning its first CIF-SS Championship after a thrilling triple-overtime victory against St. Bonaventure.

Canyon Head Coach Ali Monfared emphasized that his team was built for moments like this.

“Our guys have the hearts of champions,” said Monfared. “I know it’s cliché, but you never see them giving up. You never saw our guys waver or put their heads down.”

It was the epitome of a team victory. Whenever one player hit a lull, another stepped up.

Several key contributors played a crucial role in the Cowboys’ success. Senior Sean Hernandez had a standout performance, finishing with 15 points, a team-high 10 assists, and five rebounds.

Monfared likened Hernandez to NBA star Pau Gasol, highlighting how underrated he is.

“[Hernandez] does all the things a superstar should do but he does it without being asked,” said Monfared. “He’s the epitome of a leader and a senior superstar captain and Sean Hernandez had a championship game tonight and we’re not here without him or any of the other seniors.”

Chigozie Osuji added 19 points and nine rebounds, while junior standout Isaac Yuhico led the team in scoring with 20 points and a perfect 3-for-3 at the free-throw line.

Eric Kubel, who averages 23.1 points per game, started strong with a team-high six points in the first quarter. He then hit a cold streak through the middle quarters, going scoreless until he came alive in the fourth, scoring another six points.

His timing was crucial—his first three-pointer put Canyon ahead 61-56 with two minutes left in regulation.

Eric Kubel sinks three-pointer put Canyon ahead 61-56 with two minutes left in regulation.

“He’s shooting an hour or two before and after practice, game-like shots, so those shots that you see are not by accident,” said Monfared. “[Kubel] gets game-speed shots up all the time after our tough practices. I couldn’t be more happy for him.”

Kubel’s second three-pointer gave Canyon a 65-62 lead as the fourth quarter expired. Believing they had clinched the championship, the Cowboys started celebrating—only to be stunned when officials ruled that 1.5 seconds remained, giving St. Bonaventure one last chance.

With mere fractions of a second left, Charlie Adams, under double coverage, nailed a dramatic three-pointer, forcing overtime.

With the championship on the line, the crowd’s energy surged. Despite being at a neutral site, Canyon’s supporters made it feel like a home game.

“We’re fortunate to have three home games at Canyon and this kind of felt like a fourth,” said Monfared. “Our home crowd always travels, and credit to them for traveling out to Azusa. It was huge for us.”

The Cowboys fed off that energy, pushing through the exhaustion of an already grueling game. Once again, Kubel stepped up, hitting a clutch three-pointer to give Canyon a 70-69 lead in overtime.

However, St. Bonaventure responded, pulling ahead 73-70. With under a minute left, Canyon answered with a game-tying three-pointer, sending the contest into double overtime at 73-73.

The first points of OT2 came from Canyon off a free throw by Solomon Sims, who had 9 points and three steals in his championship debut.

The first points of OT 2 go to Canyon, and they take a 74-73 lead. pic.twitter.com/0uA2i2uVkc

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) March 1, 2025

The second overtime played out just like the first—both teams refusing to back down, ending tied at 80-80, forcing triple overtime.

The battle remained intense, with both teams tying twice in OT3. With just 31 seconds left and the game knotted at 86-86, Canyon had possession. As the clock wound down, Yuhico found Noah Madrigal open beyond the arc. With the buzzer sounding, Madrigal sank the game-winning three-pointer, sealing the championship in dramatic fashion.

@CanyonBball has won their first @CIFSS championship by a score of 88-86 in triple OT. Noah Madrigal sank the game-winning 3-pointer. pic.twitter.com/tM9KjV7Da1

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) March 1, 2025

Madrigal, while celebrating his game-winner, credited the team effort for the victory. He described making the final shot as feeling “really good” after an exhausting triple-overtime showdown.

Monfared was thrilled that every player had a moment to shine in the championship win.

“I’m so happy because guys like Noah, Solo (Solomon), and Daniel and all these different guys could easily start on our team, and I’ve been subbing in Noah and Solo all year long,” said Monfared. “They’ve started and not started, but you never see them pout or get upset, and all [Madrigal] did was be ready for his moment.”

With 12 lead changes and 10 ties throughout the game, Canyon never let the moment overwhelm them. Whenever they trailed, they responded with intensity, maintaining their composure. They held the lead for 34 minutes and 51 seconds, compared to St. Bonaventure’s 2 minutes and 41 seconds.

With their discipline, resilience, and an unwavering crowd behind them, the Cowboys captured the CIF-SS Division 2A Championship, forever cementing themselves as the program’s first champions.

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