EASTVALE, CA: The Roosevelt Mustangs are heading to Sacramento after defeating Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 79-76 in a thrilling high school basketball regional championship. This intense battle featured the nation’s top 2026 recruit, Tyran Stokes, squaring off against McDonald’s All-American Brayden Burries in a contest that lived up to the massive expectations surrounding these elite prospects.
Burries delivered a clutch performance with a game-high 37 points, including 16 in the decisive fourth quarter. Standing 6’5″ with exceptional scoring ability, Burries has established himself as one of the most compelling prospects in Southern California this season.
“I knew I had to step up,” explained Burries following his heroic late-game performance. “My teammates got me the ball, and I made some good shots. I thank God for that, and that was it.” With his performance, Burries further cemented his status among elite prospects featured in our NBA Sons Basketball Championship coverage.
Burries Delivers Clutch Performance in Championship Battle
The high school basketball championship showdown showcased exceptional talent on both sides. With Roosevelt trailing by one entering the fourth quarter, Burries demonstrated why he’s considered among the top players in his class. His decisive jab-step three-pointer with just over a minute remaining gave the Mustangs a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Roosevelt’s resilience was tested throughout the contest. Meanwhile, the team’s 30-game home winning streak provided additional motivation before their raucous home crowd. Their ability to execute under pressure mirrors the competitive drive seen in other top high school basketball teams nationally.
“Our guys have all the confidence in the world, no matter whether we’re up or we’re down, that we’re just going to continue to fight until the very end,” noted Roosevelt coach Stephen Singleton. “That’s what this team is about.”
Tyran Stokes Showcases Elite Potential Despite Defeat
Notre Dame’s Tyran Stokes, the nation’s consensus #1 prospect in the 2026 class, demonstrated his elite abilities with 23 points despite the loss. Standing 6’8″ with a versatile skill set, Stokes poured in 12 third-quarter points to help the Knights briefly take control of the game.
Stokes has drawn comparisons to NBA stars with his combination of size, athleticism, and skill. His performance in this high-stakes environment further validates projections that have him on track for eventual NBA lottery selection. The talented forward’s showing reinforces his standing among the top 2026 high school basketball prospects nationally.
Notre Dame coach Matt Sargeant acknowledged the thin margin separating these elite teams: “Big-time players made big-time plays, but they did a sliver more than we did today.” The Knights’ 18 turnovers, including a critical five-second violation in the fourth quarter, ultimately proved costly.
Championship Saturday Awaits Roosevelt
With their thrilling victory, Roosevelt (34-2) advances to Saturday’s state championship game against Northern California representative Archbishop Riordan (29-1) at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center. This marks Roosevelt’s second Open Division state final appearance, with their last championship coming in the Division I classification in 2017.
The championship matchup promises another showcase of elite California basketball talent. Roosevelt’s balanced attack, led by Burries and complemented by forward Myles Walker, will face Riordan’s disciplined approach that earned them a 52-40 regional final victory over De La Salle.
This championship battle continues a tradition of excellence in California high school basketball, a state that consistently produces elite talent for college programs and professional leagues alike.
For the latest updates on Tyran Stokes, Brayden Burries, and other elite high school basketball prospects, keep following Prospect-Radar.com.
