Trace Redfield made two free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining to lift Rancho Christian of Temecula to a 68-66 victory over Capistrano Valley Christian in a CIF-SS 5A boys basketball semifinal Friday night at Temecula Valley High.
Capistrano Valley Christian, the No. 2 seed, tied the score, 66-66, on a basket by Spider Adetunji. Rancho Christian called time out and took possession with 16 seconds remaining. Redfield took a pass on the deep wing from Jamal Brower and was fouled while trying to split a double-team.
The 6-foot-1 junior took his time before stepping to the line.
“I’m just saying, ‘Calm down. Calm down. This is it. You can do this, Trace. You’ve done this thousands of times before. Calm down and put them in,’” said Redfield, who had 25 points. “And that’s what I did.”
The victory sends Rancho Christian (24-7) to the 5A championship game, the first in any sport for the tiny private school.
Rancho Christian led 51-40 midway through the third quarter before Capo went on a 14-0 run that included a Daniel Quinland 3-pointer to end the third and a Simon Okolue rebound put-back to open the fourth.
But Brower, who had nine of his 10 points in the fourth, challenged the Capo Valley bigs, made the bucket and drew the foul. His three-point play tied the score at 54 with 6:58 left.
It was back and forth the rest of the way.
JEFF PARENTI
In Division 3A:
Beverly Hills 54, Esperanza 49: The visiting Aztecs (22-8) trailed by just two points to start the fourth quarter of the semifinal, but the top-seeded Normans (24-5) held them off.
Turnovers late in the game proved to be costly for Esperanza, according to Coach Mark Hill. The Aztecs had two turnovers on their first three possessions in the fourth quarter.
“We felt confident entering the game,” Hill said. “Turnovers were a problem in this game for us and they took advantage when it mattered.”
The Aztecs were led by senior Jarrett Brodbeck, who scored 18 points.
