Desert Pines pushes No. 1 Findlay Prep to limit, just misses upset, 64-62

Desert Pines boys basketball coach Mike Uzan said he doesn't believe in moral victories.

He might after Saturday night.

Uzan's Jaguars nearly pulled off the unthinkable, leading top-ranked Findlay Prep for much of the game before falling 64-62 to the Pilots in the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest at Coronado.

"They gave it everything," Uzan said. "We had the final shot to win the game, and it was a 3-pointer, it was just what we needed, and it just didn't fall, and that's how it goes."

The Jaguars (21-3) led for much of the game before a 10-0 run gave the Pilots (25-0) a 63-54 lead with 2:41 to play.

But Julian Jacobs hit a 3-pointer to ignite Desert Pines. Jacobs hit two free throws with 1:06 to play to cut the lead to 64-60, then hit a driving layup with 43 seconds left to make it 64-62.

After Christian Wood was called for traveling, the Jaguars had two final chances. Jacobs drove and dished to Coby Myles, who missed a 3-pointer from the corner, and Malik Davis' follow was no good as time expired.

"We definitely had a chance to win it at the end," Jacobs said. "We were a little rattled when we got the call. It was a good look. We just wanted to capitalize, but unfortunately we didn't get the shot."

Nigel Williams-Goss scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half to lead the Pilots, who are ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today. Wood had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Pilots.

Jacobs finished with 21 points, four rebounds and seven assists to pace the Jaguars. Myles added 18 points for Desert Pines, which had won eight straight.

"With us, we had nothing to lose," Jacobs said. "We just had to come out and compete. The main thing that stuck with us, is (Uzan) said shock the world. That's what we tried to do. We just wanted to come out and compete and show we're an elite-level team."

The Jaguars don't compete at the state's highest division, but will be one of the favorites in Division I-A. And Jacobs thinks Saturday's performance will help keep others from overlooking Desert Pines.

"I hope they don't overlook us because of what division we're in," Jacobs said. "Because we're just as good as anyone out here. We're well-coached, and if you just come out and compete and play hard, the results show."

The loss to Findlay was the first against a Nevada team for Desert Pines. And the Pilots aren't eligible to compete for a state title.

"No one in this city's beat us except for Findlay Prep," Uzan said. "The teams that beat us were out-of-state teams, and they were all one-point losses. So tonight we suffered a two-point loss from the No. 1 team in the country."

Contact reporter Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587.