Crespi shoots free throws during practice in two different ways. One way takes place complete silence with everyone focused on the task at hand. The is filled with crowd noise. No matter the way it gets done, it gets done.
Head coach Russell White didn't factor in nerves into the equation. That's fine, though, because there were none for Crespi on Friday night as the Celts calmly sank 19-of-19 free throws in a 61-52 win over Mission College Prep (24-6) to win the CIF Southern Section 4AA championship. It's the first sectional championship for Crespi since winning Division 4A in 2010.
Crespi (24-7) made just one of the eight field goals it attempted in the fourth quarter, which left the Celts reeling against a furious Mission Prep rally.
If nothing less, the free throws were a life saver Friday night. The Celts made all 12 attempts in the final eight minutes as they were able to execute what they've practiced all season.
"We practice a lot of free throws," freshman guard Brandon Williams said. "We act like it's a real game."
The Celts held a 14-point halftime lead.
Despite holding a 10-point lead going into the third, the Celts allowed Mission Prep to shoot nearly 60 percent from the field in the third quarter, including 4-of-7 from three point range.
"(I was thinking) we got to play better defense," White said. "We gave them too many easy ones. We got stifled on offense."
Quinton Adlesh spearheaded the Royals comeback attempt with a game-high 25 points. He connected on 4 of 11 from beyond the arc. Kyle Stewart was in double figures as well with 10 points. Stewart made 2-of-5 three-point attempts.
The Crespi lead was just two, 51-49 with 2:14 left. The Celts needed some breathing room.
Thirty seconds later, De'Anthony Melton provided that with a short jump hook in the lane. It was the Celts first and only field goal of the quarter.
"(In) the fourth quarter, I just really felt like we were struggling and coach wanted us to keep attacking the basket," said Melton, who finished with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. "That jump hook by me really helped us. It kind of gave us a little breathing room.
"We just wanted to find a way to put the ball in the basket."
Buckets were hard to come by for the Celts in the second half. Crespi was outshot 42.9 percent to 33.3 percent from the field in the second half.
The free throw line, however, was a different story. Crespi was 14-of-14 in the second half. Mission Prep hardly got to the line and was just 2 of 3.
"We persevered," White said. "That's what you want from your team, perseverance."
