SAN JOSE — It seemed inconceivable.
Yet again, Archbishop Mitty found itself in danger as the No. 1 seed of missing out on the Central Coast Section Open Division boys title game.
The Monarchs lost in last year’s quarterfinals to eighth-seeded Sacred Heart Cathedral, the eventual champion.
In Wednesday’s nightcap of a semifinals doubleheader at Independence High, Mitty got more than it bargained for from No. 4 Menlo-Atherton, which led at the midway point of the fourth quarter.
But M-A went cold down the stretch and the Monarchs managed to reach a 20th CCS final in program history after a 63-55 victory over the Bears.
“They came to play,” said Mitty senior Owen Browne, who finished with a game-high 17 points. “They got in us from the start and continued that the whole game, but we were able to battle through, grind it out. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but we’ll take it.”
“We’ve been working for this our whole four years, really,” fellow senior Marcus Greene said. “Just always had to get to the highest level, so it feels great to be there now.”
M-A (22-4) got off to a fast start and found itself ahead 11-2 after 2½ minutes of play.
Mitty (22-4) didn’t blink, eventually stretching out to a double-digit lead — 31-20 — with 2:33 left in the second quarter.
The Bears managed to weather the storm and methodically cut into the deficit, eventually moving ahead 47-46 in the fourth quarter on consecutive baskets by point guard Justin Anderson, a Pac-12 football recruit bound for Washington State.
The Monarchs, who on Dec. 20 cruised past M-A at home 85-49, called a timeout with 5:22 left to regroup.
“I told them we have plenty of time and it’s all going to come down to our defense and getting stops, and then taking care of the ball,” Mitty coach Tim Kennedy said. “We were so loose with the ball. I mean, I have so much respect for M-A, the way they set the tone with how physical and how scrappy they were just getting all those loose balls. That kind of changed the tide of the game, I think.”
M-A missed a trio of potential treys to establish a two-possession game, then Nigel Burris put the Monarchs back up 49-47 on a three-point play in the paint.
But momentum totally shifted with 2:56 left after Browne released a 3-pointer, was fouled in the process and converted a four-point play to make it 53-47.
“I got spun around when I got hit, so I didn’t even see the ball go in,” said Browne, who heard the roar of the crowd. “But I could feel it, that that was dropping, for sure.”
M-A never managed to recover, and for a second year in a row bowed out in the Open Division semifinals.
Anderson led the Bears with 14 points, while J.D. Carson and Skyler Thomas, each of them also football players, contributed 12 apiece.
“I told them postgame it’s going to sting,” M-A coach Mike Molieri said. “It shows that we’ve come a long way since that beating in December. Proud of them as a program, proud that we represent the public schools and it just shows again that we can compete with these WCAL teams.
“We’re close to that, but compliment Mitty. That’s why they’re the No. 1 seed, they made some plays at the end.”
Mitty senior Mason Ryan scored seven of his 16 points over the final two minutes, while Green accounted for 14.
The Monarchs face No. 3 Bellarmine (23-3) in Friday’s title game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford.
The West Catholic Athletic League rivals split regular-season meetings in January, as well as the 2017 and 2018 CCS Open Division championship trophies.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got our girls playing there before us. And being able to play at Maples is special, it’s a Pac-12 school. And being knocked out last year in the first round, these seniors and our returners being able to come back to try and go win it — and you’re playing against one of your rivals.
“So it doesn’t get any sweeter than that.”
Meanwhile, M-A must wait until Sunday to find out its fate in the Northern California regional. Last year, the Bears received a No. 14 seed in Division I and lost 69-53 at Clovis West.
“I hope the committee looks at the body of works and doesn’t put us at the bottom and go to Fresno again,” Molieri said.
