MISSION VIEJO – Daniel Prendergast scored 24 points and made seven 3-pointers to lead Trabuco Hills to a 56-46 win over Valencia in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2A boys basketball playoffs Wednesday at Trabuco Hills High.
The sophomore has shown he is capable of getting hot from beyond the arc. He scored a career-high 32 points while making nine 3-pointers against El Dorado earlier this season.
“He (Prendergast) has that instant offense off the bench,” Trabuco Hills coach Sean Sullens said. “He is a sophomore, but he has the confidence of an all-league senior.”
Trabuco Hills and Valencia both went on large runs throughout the game. After trailing in the first quarter, the Mustangs went on a 13-0 run, aided by eight consecutive points by Chase Anderson.
Trabuco Hills (14-14) outscored Valencia, 20-9, in the second quarter to enter halftime with a 31-23 lead. Prendergast had 11 points in the quarter.
Valencia (15-12) went on an 11-0 run to begin the second half and retook the lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Brian Chen and Dalton Sloniger forced a timeout by the Mustangs.
“You have to just ride out runs like that,” Sullens said. “It’s CIF so everybody is in win-or-go-home mode.
“The shots they (Valencia) were hitting, we were OK with. We said that in in our scouting report, that they can hit deep 3s.”
The score was tied at 37 entering the fourth quarter. Prendergast made three consecutive 3-pointers to put Trabuco up by nine. Four rebounds by Quentin Watts and five late points by Anderson helped Trabuco maintain the lead and advance to the second round.
The Mustangs will play at No. 1-seed Oxnard on Friday.
“They (Oxnard) are really good. It will be a challenge for us,” Sullens said. “A nice two-hour bus ride, but it should be fun.”
