Maranatha Christian boys basketball coach Brooks Barnhard likes to treat the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic like it’s the CIF playoffs. There are guaranteed games, but lose and it’s unlikely you’ll be playing for the championship.

“This is the only tournament that best mirrors what it looks like to be CIF champions,” said Barnhard, the former University of San Diego star now in his 13th season at Maranatha. “We treat this like we want to win the championship, put that level of pressure on us. That it matters that much.”

In a 10 a.m. start the day after Christmas at St. Augustine High School, Maranatha displayed the kind of focus and grit it will take to win a CIF title. The Eagles came from 10 points down late in the third quarter to defeat Steele Canyon 54-51 in both teams’ opening game in the Mayor’s Division.

It helps that the Eagles have three junior guards who have played on the varsity since they were freshmen. They led the way Thursday.

Will Ralston, who came in averaging 14.1 points per game, led all players with 20 points. Dash Ekeroth scored 15, all on 3-pointers. And AD Ownbey scored 13, including hitting 9 of 10 free throws. He was 7 of 8 from the stripe in the fourth quarter.

The comeback was fueled by Maranatha Christian’s defense. The Eagles (8-4) outscored Steele Canyon 17-6 in the fourth quarter. The Cougars (7-5) turned the ball over on their first three fourth-quarter trips down the floor, didn’t score until 2:27 remained in the game and sank just one shot from the field (1 of 7).

“Today was chunks of messiness,” said Barnhard, “but it was opportune time in the fourth quarter.”

As for being down 10 late in the third period, Ralston took a big-picture view.

“I just kind of had this reset mentality,” he said. “We’ve got a whole eight minutes to do what we want to do. And in the end, it’s an opportunity to play basketball with some of my best friends. Just leave it all out on the floor.”

Ownbey kept things simpler.

“I didn’t really think that much,” he said. “Just get it back on defense.”

Maranatha took its first lead since late in the second quarter, 46-45, with 2:55 to play on a Ralston free throw. The game would be tied three times down the stretch, at 47, 49 and 51.

Two Ownbey free throws made it 53-51 with 57.4 seconds to play. A Ralston free throw boosted the lead to 54-51 with 9.6 seconds on the clock.

A heavily contested 3 by Steele Canyon’s Caleb Thach caromed off the rim at the buzzer. Alex Andrew led Steele with 16 points. Thach scored 12.

Sitting just behind the scorers’ table minutes after the win, Ralston gave Ownbey major props.

“This guy steps up at the craziest moments, hits nine of 10 free throws and secures the game,” said Ralston. “When there’s a lot on the line, that’s when we thrive.”