Sierra Canyon Boys Celebrate State Basketball Championship Even Without Maxi Adams
SACRAMENTO — In a heart-wrenching moment for any coach, star player Maxi Adams exited the court with an ankle injury less than four minutes into the championship game. Adams, a McDonald’s All-American from Sierra Canyon, required assistance to leave the floor during the Open Division state final against Richmond Salesian at the Golden 1 Center.
After being evaluated in the locker room, his carefully measured steps indicated the end of his night. He returned to the bench on crutches with his ankle wrapped, leaving his team in need of a leader as they fell behind by nine points early in the second quarter.
Despite the setback, coach Andre Chevalier’s deep roster proved crucial. Players quickly stepped up to fill the void. Steph Kankole sank three three-pointers, while JJ Sati-Greer added four free throws and Jordan Mize contributed a dunk. Fellow McDonald’s All-American Brandon McCoy capped off the first half with a stunning three-point play, putting Sierra Canyon ahead by one at halftime.
"Win one for Maxi" became the rallying cry for the Trailblazers, who responded with a commanding 15-0 run in the third quarter, ultimately sealing a 78-70 victory. This win marks Sierra Canyon’s first Open Division title since the 2019 team, which featured Cassius Stanley and Kenyon Martin Jr.
“Everyone knew we were talented coming into the year, but there were a lot of questions,” Chevalier said. “People thought we weren’t going to merge. They’ve been friends since childhood. When Maxi went down, everyone locked in and said we were going to win for Maxi. We’ve hung our hat on playing nine all year long.”
The Trailblazers established a significant 19-point lead in the fourth quarter, led by McCoy’s impressive performance of 20 points on 80% shooting. Kankole finished with 12 points, and both Mize and Sati-Greer added 11. For Salesian, Elias Obenyah stood out with 27 points.
McCoy, who has roots in Northern California and is familiar with many opposing players, expressed his enthusiasm after the game. “It means the world to me. I’ve had this goal written on the wall since high school,” he said, demonstrating his excitement with a celebratory dunk before his teammates.
Kankole’s performance was particularly notable, as he delivered four three-pointers off the bench. “Oh my gosh, we’ve been waiting for him to make shots,” Chevalier remarked, to which Kankole added, “I love playing in arenas. They’re fun.”
Sierra Canyon’s relentless defense contributed to forcing 18 turnovers, a fact Salesian coach Bill Mellis acknowledged, saying, “They keep coming in waves.”
The Trailblazers, finishing the season with a remarkable 30-1 record, held the No. 1 ranking throughout. They faced minimal competition, with their only significant challenge coming from Mission League rival Harvard-Westlake, which lost to them three times. This season also marked the end for Harvard-Westlake’s sharpshooter Joe Sterling, who will take his talents to Texas.
Overall, the season will likely be remembered for its impressive individual talent, with four players — McCoy, Adams, Christian Collins from St. John Bosco, and Jason Crowe Jr. from Inglewood — honored as McDonald’s All-Americans. Crowe concluded his high school career as the state’s all-time scoring leader with 4,718 points.
In a nod to the future, underclassmen from Palisades and Birmingham are poised to bolster competition in the City Section, aiming to challenge Southern Section teams in the years ahead.
As the 2025-26 season wraps up, Chevalier reflected on the journey, stating, “I’m happy, I’m proud and I’m exhausted.”
