Coming off their 88-37 opening night victory on Wednesday, the #9 ranked (AZ Republic Preseason "Super 10") Roadrunners (1-0) travel to California to play in the 5th Annual Battle by the Beach Showcase, hosted at St. Bonaventure Catholic High School in Ventura, California. On Friday the Roadrunners will face Crespi Carmelite at 7:00 PM (8:00 PM AZ), followed by JSerra on Saturday at 6:00 PM (7:00 PM AZ) as part of a full slate of games in the showcase style event.

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5th Annual Battle by the Beach Showcase Schedule

Friday Schedule:

4:00 PM - Buena vs Eastside (Lancaster)

5:30 PM - Thousand Oaks vs South Pasadena

7:00 PM - Crespi vs San Tan Charter

8:30 PM - St. Bonaventure vs Lancaster

Saturday Schedule:

9:00 AM - Pacifica (Oxnard) vs Palmdale

10:30 AM - Santa Clara (Oxnard) vs Righetti

12:00 PM - Rio Mesa vs Edison (Fresno)

1:30 PM - Calabasas vs Willow Canyon (AZ)

3:00 PM - Santa Paula vs Lancaster

4:30 PM - Edison (HB) vs San Joaquin Memorial

6:00 PM - JSerra vs San Tan Charter

7:30 PM - Oaks Christian vs St. Francis

Friday's name against Crespi will be a re-match from a pre-season game between the two teams at the 2024 Border League in Las Vegas, with the Celts coming away with the victory over the Roadrunners on October 18. Since the loss, the Roadrunners have seen the return of junior Jachin Reynolds, who did not travel to the Border League event, and added 3-star guard Jaelon Germany, who transferred to San Tan after moving from Texas in the fall. The additions for the Roadrunners sets up a showdown between the teams that is expected to live up to the hype in a prime-time Friday night game.

Notes and Storylines vs Crespi

• Leading all scorers in San Tan's opening game against Glendale Prep was junior Kristo Jackson, posting 16 points while adding five rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist. Jackson is looking for a breakout season in a starting role after showing his talent and athleticism in a pivotal role off the bench for a loaded Roadrunner roster during their championship run last season. Jackson averaging 9.5 pts/game, leading the team in field goal percentage on the season, and was a key part of the lineup that led San Tan's 44-16 second-half run that erased a 13-point second half deficit on their way to defeating Rancho Solano 69-54 in the state championship game.

• Familiar faces for Head Coach Kyli Crooms, Assistant Coach Robert Desimone, and Roadrunner sophomores Peyton Lubash and Jase Benjamin will appear against Crespi with twin brothers Carter and Isaiah Barnes. The Barnes' brothers, sons of former NBA player Matt Barnes, played for their father's club team G1 Elite and the group has had several matchups over the years against each other with Coach Crooms' club team UH Elite 2027 Ignite (assisted by Coach Desimone). All four players are members of the 2027 class and both UH Elite and G1 spent much of their 7th and 8th grade years ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation, also facing each other in back-to-back years at the Middle School Championship series National Championship in Washington, DC.

• The Roadrunners have become known for showing off their scoring depth and did so again on Wednesday with four players in double figures. In addition to Jackson's 16 points, Lubash, Benjamin, and Germany all added 13 points in the win. Last year, Lubash led the Roadrunners at 21.2 pts/game, while Benjamin added 10.2 pts/game. Germany spent his sophomore campaign playing for the Crowley Eagles (Crowley, TX), averaging over 16 pts/game before moving to Arizona in the fall.

• Crespi is coached by former NBA player Derek Fisher, who spent 18 years in the NBA, winning 5 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Fisher is also the former Head Coach of the New York Knicks (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), and was named Head Coach at Crespi on August 7, 2023.

• Roadrunner senior Kylen Bonner scored 8 points on opening night while adding 3 rebounds, 4 steals and an assist. Bonner has been a cornerstone of San Tan's rise in the AIA ranks as the only remaining varsity member from Crooms' first year as Head Coach at San Tan Charter. Bonner surpassed 1,000 career points during the Roadrunner's playoff run last year and has spent his 3+ year career with the Roadrunners showcasing his versatility and high basketball IQ with an ability to score, rebound, and defend at a high level.

• The Roadrunners travel to California short of their full roster with multiple members of the basketball team playing for the school's football team, including seniors Cavell Joseph and Tyler Catron, who were both members of the 2024 State Championship basketball team. The Roadrunner football team is ranked #1 in the AIA 2A and play Saturday night in the state semifinals against Scottsdale Christian, 6:00 PM at Westwood High School.