SoCalHoops Tournament News
SoCalHoops Tournament News
TPHS National Prep Classic 2000
Day Three Report --(Dec. 28, 2000)
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The second day report was sent early this morning and covered last night's games. The day three report was sent very late the same night and covered the following day's games. Our correspondent, Szecho Lin was there for the third day of the Torrey Pines National Prep Classic, and sent us the following report:
TPHS National Prep Classic 2000 Third Day Report
by Szecho Lin
Exclusive to SoCalHoops
Dobson Mustangs 74 Santa Margarita Eagles 58
The Mustangs from Dobson High put another convincing win on the board. This time their opponents were the Eagles from Santa Margarita High. The Eagles gave Dobson a completely different look defensively than their previous opponent Fairfax. Santa Margarita’s physical half-court defense helped them control the tempo in the first quarter. The teams played to a 14-14 tie after one period. Dobson began to adjust to Santa Margarita’s rugged defense and slowly built a lead. All three big men in the game, Santa Margarita’s Adam Tancredi (6’8"), and Dobson’s Jordan Legge (6’8") and Nick Dewitz (6’7") sat out the last two and half minutes of the first half due to foul trouble. Dobson led a half-time 33-27. After exploding for 23 points in the first half last night, Dewitz was held to just 4 points. He missed on several inside opportunities.
It took them a half to adjust to a different style of play, but Dobson clearly established the tempo in the second half. Dewitz came alive in the third quarter, scoring 11 points. However, he picked up his fourth foul with 1:56 to play in third quarter with Dobson leading 49-36. Even without Dewitz in the game, Santa Margarita was unable to cut into the lead, and Dobson led 55-40 after three quarters. Sparked by the play of point guard, Kellen Baker, the Walker twins (Doug and Nick), and Andy McClure, Dobson maintained their lead throughout most of the fourth quarter. Dewitz returned in the fourth quarter, but lasted just another minute and a half before picking up his fifth foul with 3:57 to play. Dobson still led 66-51 at this point. The Eagles mounted one last charge and a three-pointer by Brandon Rohe made the score 66-56 with 2:30 left. However, after a basket by Dobson, Rohe was called for a technical foul. Dobson hit one out of two and on the ensuing possession, Jordan Legge converted a three-point play to make it 72-56 with 1:26 left. The final score was 74-58. Dewitz finished with only 15, but 11 came during their third quarter surge that took control of the game. Legge tied Dewitz with 15 for the Mustangs. Rohe led the Eagles with 14. The Mustangs advance on to the semi-finals of the National Division.
Centennial Huskies 67 Eisenhower Eagles 59
Corona Centennial took on Rialto Eisenhower, in the second quarterfinal game of the National Division. Jamaal Williams paced Centennial in the first quarter with 8 points, but Eisenhower held a slim 15-14 lead after one period. The Huskies exploded for 27 points in the second quarter, with Williams again pacing them with 9 more points. Alex Acker led Eisenhower with 9 points at half-time. Centennial took a 41-30 lead into the locker room. Centennial played without Williams for the third quarter, as he sat with four personal fouls. Eisenhower was unable to capitalize on Williams’ absence. The inspired play of 6’9" Erik Soderberg helped Centennial keep the Eagles from mounting a comeback. The Huskies maintained their 11 point lead with a 54-43 advantage, after three quarters. Williams returned in the fourth quarter, but picked up his fifth foul with 5:14 to play. Johnny Dukes scored 6 in a 13-6 run that helped Eisenhower close the gap to 60-56 with 3:53 left. They could get no closer as Centennial handled the full-court press and hit their free-throws to win the game 67-59. Jamaal Williams led Centennial with 17 points, all in the first half. David Sybesma and J.R. Reese added 12 apiece. Alex Acker led Eisenhower with 18 points, and Johnny Dukes finished with 13. Centennial advances to face Dobson in the second semi-final tomorrow night at 8:30, at Torrey Pines High School.
Archbishop Moeller Crusaders 59 St. Ignatius Wildcats 52
The third quarterfinal game of the National Division of the tournament matched San Francisco St. Ignatius against Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller. Riding the hot shooting of Steve Blake, a 6’2" guard, St. Ignatius took a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Blake hit on three-pointers on three consecutive trips down court. St. Ignatius pushed their lead to 21-14 as Blake hit his fourth three-pointer of the first half. The Crusaders responded with a 10-0 run, capped by Matt Sylvester’s three-pointer. The two teams traded baskets and headed into the half-time tied at 26. Archbishop Moeller kept the momentum going in the second half. The 6’7" Sylvester brought the crowd to it’s feet when he slipped backdoor, caught and alley-oop pass with one hand, brought it back from behind his head and slammed it through. Sylvester reminds me of a 6’7" version of Keith Van Horn. His dunk gave Moeller a 36-32 lead with 4:13 left in the third quarter. Moeller had it’s biggest lead at 39-34, but St. Ignatius answered with seven straight points to take a 41-39 lead after three quarters of play. The Crusaders broke a 44-44 tie on a three-pointer. Eric Strain’s three-pointer for St. Ignatius, with 2:45 left in the game brought them within three at 55-52. However, St. Ignatius was unable to score again, missing on several opportunities to tie the game. The Crusaders put the game away at the free-throw line and celebrated a 59-52 victory. The Wildcats were unable to consistently score against Moeller’s half-court defense, and relied on their transition game to score points. Matt Sylvester led the Crusaders with 21 points. Laurence Metz and Steven Blake both scored 14 for St. Ignatius. Archbishop Moeller takes on Concord De La Salle tomorrow night at 7:00 pm at Torrey Pines High School, in the first semi-final game.
De La Salle Spartans Brighton Bengals
Tonight, the defending tournament and State Division I champions finally played their first game of the tournament. They took on Brighton High School from Salt Lake City, Utah. Games were running about an hour late, so I was unable to stay for the entire game, but when I left, De La Salle was up 40-16, as action got underway in the second half. Joe See, De La Salle’s point guard and future Oregon St. Beaver, led the Spartans at half-time with 13 points, including 3 three-pointers. Rekalin Sims, a 6’7" forward, adds a different inside option for the Spartans this year, but as usual, the Spartans feature a cast of guards and forwards that probably like to throw trash into the trashcan at 19’9". Archbishop Moeller should provide a real test for the Spartans, as they seek to defend their tournament title.
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