Skip to content
Author

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Leading by nine coming out of the half, Saddleback Valley Christian turned up the defensive intensity and left host Ocean View behind Friday night in the Jim Harris Memorial Tournament of Champions.

The Warriors outscored the Seahawks by 21 in the third quarter en route to a 74-43 victory in the semifinals at Ocean View High. 

“We like to speed teams up, and we just weren’t playing hard enough on the defensive end,” Saddleback Valley Christian coach Tom Lewis said of his team’s first-half play. “When Jonah (Tolmarie) and Trey Smith and Crutch (Josh Crutchfield) play hard defensively, it’s a lot of pressure.”

Despite Smith’s least productive offensive game of the young season, the Warriors had little trouble in advancing to the final round.

————————————————

FRIDAY’S BASKETBALL STORIES

————————————————

Saddleback Valley Christian will play Trinity International of Nevada for the tournament title Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ocean View High.

The Warriors rolled through their first three games of the tournament, winning each by at least 19 points. Ocean View (4-1) had won its first four games by an average margin of 30 points.

The Warriors forced 20 turnovers and created numerous easy fast break buckets, especially in the third quarter when Saddleback Valley Christian’s full court man-to-man pressure made it difficult for Ocean View to inbound the ball.

Tolmarie particularly gave the Seahawks fits during the lopsided third quarter.

Smith’s 17 points led Saddleback Valley Christian (4-0), but last season’s second-team All-County selection struggled a bit from the field. He made eight of 20 shots and connected on one of six 3-pointers.

“He did so many other things to help us win,” Lewis said. “I think he’s the best player in Orange County. He can do a little bit of everything. When he shows up, with the offense on top of it, he’s even on another level.”

Tolmarie, Jon Scherer and Jordan Taylor joined Smith in scoring in double figures. Ocean View’s Mehkel Harvey’s 19 points were a game high.