Sierra Canyon defeats Harvard-Westlake to advance to state basketball finals

Maxi Adams scored 26 points as Sierra Canyon defeated Harvard-Westlake in the Southern California Open Division regional championship game.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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On a night there were so many fans packed into the Sierra Canyon gymnasium that even Bronny James might have had a hard time getting a ticket, Maxi Adams and a few of his good friends proved the Trailblazers (29-1) are on an unstoppable path to being crowned the best high school basketball team in California. Sierra Canyon defeated Harvard-Westlake 63-57 on Tuesday night in the Southern California Open Division regional championship game and will now advance to play Richmond Salesian on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Why it matters

This victory for Sierra Canyon highlights the strength of their basketball program and their quest to be crowned the best high school team in California. The win over rival Harvard-Westlake, a perennial powerhouse, demonstrates Sierra Canyon's talent and resilience as they continue their playoff run.

The details

Maxi Adams, a 6-foot-8 standout bound for North Carolina, led Sierra Canyon with 26 points. The Trailblazers built a 10-point lead by the end of the third quarter, wearing down the Harvard-Westlake players with their grinding style of play. Harvard-Westlake kept fighting to close the gap, but could not overcome Sierra Canyon's dominance on the boards and turnovers.

  • The Southern California Open Division regional championship game was played on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
  • Sierra Canyon will play Richmond Salesian on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 8 p.m. at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The players

Maxi Adams

A 6-foot-8 standout player for Sierra Canyon who is bound for North Carolina. He led Sierra Canyon with 26 points in the win over Harvard-Westlake.

Andre Chevalier

The head coach of the Sierra Canyon basketball team.

David Rebibo

The head coach of the Harvard-Westlake basketball team.

Brandon McCoy

A player for Sierra Canyon who made a crucial baseline three-pointer to crush Harvard-Westlake's momentum.

Elijah Smith

A player for Damien High School who scored 20 points to help his team advance to the Division I championship game.

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What they’re saying

“Salesian is a good team, but this Sierra Canyon team is talented, versatile and presents a lot of challenges.”

— David Rebibo, Harvard-Westlake head coach (latimes.com)

“He knew he was going to have to play great.”

— Andre Chevalier, Sierra Canyon head coach (latimes.com)

“Offensive rebounds and turnovers were two things we needed to be perfect on and it impacted us. I love these guys. Incredible kids. They never gave up and accepted every challenge. It's a team I will never forget.”

— David Rebibo, Harvard-Westlake head coach (latimes.com)

What’s next

Sierra Canyon will play Richmond Salesian on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 8 p.m. at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento for the state championship.

The takeaway

Sierra Canyon's victory over rival Harvard-Westlake demonstrates the strength and talent of their basketball program as they continue their quest to be crowned the best high school team in California. Their ability to grind out a win against a tough opponent shows their resilience and versatility as a team.