Capo Valley fends off Tesoro's charge
The No. 6 Cougars overcome late charge to pull out a 62-57 victory.
Tesoro made the second-half push that Capistrano Valley boys basketball coach Brian Mulligan was expecting.
The Titans, who trailed by 11 on two occasions in the second half, found themselves down two with 1:05 remaining in the game.
“In a rivalry game, you know that they’re going to make a run down the stretch,” Mulligan said.
However, in the end, the sixth-ranked Cougars (15-4, 2-0) were able to claw out a 62-57 victory Friday at Tesoro High despite making only one field goal after the 4:57 mark.
Thankfully, for them, they were hot from the free throw line.
“We made our free throws and that helped a lot,” Mulligan said. “We shot 69 point something for the season, but down the stretch, I’m glad I got a group that makes them. …That makes me look a lot better.”
The Cougars made nine of 10 free throws late in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.
Mike Hernandez led the Cougars with 21 points, and Charles Estrada added 15.
“My guy, Mike Hernandez, took it them to pretty good,” Mulligan said. “He plays offense and he plays defense, and he did everything he was supposed to do.”
Defensively, the Cougars were able to withstand Chris Manresa’s 20 points. Estrada, Hernandez and Tyler Bench all took turns defending Tesoro’s big center.
“They all knew their jobs and did them relatively well,” Mulligan said.
No other Titan scored in double figures.
“We just had to hustle and play good defense that’s what our coach told us to do,” Hernandez said.
Also in the South Coast League:
No. 5 Mission Viejo 61, San Clemente 51: Grant Heineken scored 17 points and knocked down three 3-pointers to lead the host Diablos (14-4, 2-0) to the victory. Ben Hayes added 13 for Mission Viejo.
Conner Kelso scored 16 for the Tritons, who fell to 0-2 in the league.
In the Trinity League
St. John Bosco 68, No. 4 JSerra 62: The Lions (13-6, 1-2) led by five at the end of the third period, but they couldn't hold off the Braves in the last quarter.
St. John Bosco outscored JSerra, 24-13, in the fourth quarter to get the road victory. Alec Williams led JSerra with 24 points, and Demetrius Walker scored 18.
In the Sea View League
No. 3 El Toro 69, Northwood 30: Andre Murillo scored 21 points, and John Bastos added 13 in the home victory for the Chargers (17-1, 2-0).
No. 8 Huntington Beach 81, Trabuco Hills 56: Nick Becker’s 33 points and four 3-pointers led the Oilers (15-2, 2-0) to the home victory. Zack Kimber scored 15 points for the Oilers.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
