ALISO VIEJO – Make the extra pass. Find the open man.
Those simple orders are often given by coaches, but when executed they can pay dividends.
San Clemente made a habit of both against Aliso Niguel, leading to a 73-55 win over the Wolverines in a South Coast League game Wednesday night at Aliso Niguel High.
The Tritons shot 26 for 47 (55.3 percent) from the floor and never trailed, starting the game on a 10-0 run.
Forward Cole Fotheringham made his presence felt early, and had a double-double by halftime with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“He gives us a physical presence that other teams really have a hard time contending with,” Tritons coach Marc Popovich said. “He did a great job of finishing at the rim.”
San Clemente (16-5, 4-0) stretched its lead to a high of 22 points in the second half. Dillon Waikle hit a 3-pointer and Jake Cameron added two more to spark the initial run in the first quarter.
On Aliso Niguel’s senior night, Wolverines coach Keith Barnett kept his starters on the bench until midway through the first quarter.
It took until early in the second quarter to get comfortable, but Aliso Niguel (11-11, 3-1) reduced an 18-point deficit to 11 by the end of the first half.
“We were out of rhythm all night,” Barnett said. “We got hit pretty hard tonight. … They’re really athletic and they shot the ball well tonight.”
Harminder Dhaliwal showed great mid-range touch for the Wolverines in the second half, scoring 17 of his team-high 19 points after recess.
But the Tritons couldn’t be slowed. Waikle drained a pair of 3-pointers and James Paterson benefitted from extra attention given to Gage Shelmidine for three easy layups.
San Clemente cruised in the fourth quarter. Waikle led the Tritons with 19 points and Fotheringham finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Paterson scored 10 of his 11 points in the second half.
“We shared the ball extremely well tonight,” Tritons coach Marc Popovich said. “When we do that and we move off the ball, we get great looks and that’s a nice way to win a game.”
Guard Lucas Parks added 11 points for Aliso Niguel, while Dylan Dickerson, who provided the spark the Wolverines needed in the first half, scored 10.
San Clemente is 4-0 in the South Coast League despite playing all four of those games on the road, while Aliso Niguel has had all its league games at home to this point.
The Tritons host Mission Viejo on Friday, while Aliso Niguel travels to Laguna Hills for a nonleague game.
Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com
