CVC cruises, shares Express League crown
Boys high school basketball
Capistrano Valley Christian's cozy, linoleum-floored gym tells the story — among the many banners in the rafters are six that read "CIF-SS Quarterfinals" from the past seven seasons.
The Eagles on Wednesday displayed what could get them back to the quarterfinals or beyond this season in a 61-23 cruise past Southlands Christian of Walnut in an Express League game, their final game of the regular season. Capistrano Valley Christian and Bethel Baptist are Express League co-champions with 9-1 league records.
Capistrano Valley Christian (20-6 overall) has scorers. Sophomore guard Parker Coss scored 27 points, nine more than his average. Senior guard Daniel Koh scored 14 with four 3-pointers, and the Eagles made no turnovers in the second and third quarters.
"Our guards played really well, the way they protected the ball," Capistrano Valley coach Zach Brogdan said. "We have great senior leadership with Daniel Koh and Chris Lenzen, and Parker's a phenomenal shooter."
Coss made seven 3-pointers to push his Orange County-leading total to 105. His first basket from behind the arc made it 3-0, and the Eagles never trailed after that. They had an 11-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, a 31-8 advantage at halftime and took a 32-point led into the fourth quarter.
Southlands Christian (11-10, 6-4) missed its first 16 shots of the game. Meanwhile, the Eagles were dropping in 3-pointers.
"We make a lot of big plays at the right time," Coss said.
The tight quarters at Capistrano Valley's gym, where stands and benches are only a couple of feet from the sidelines and only a few feet separate the baselines from walls, can make it a challenging place for visiting teams.
"It's a lot of fun to play here," Coss said. "We have a great crowd, and we get a lot of support."
Capistrano Valley Christian will play in CIF-Southern Section Division 5A when the playoffs begin Wednesday. They are ranked No. 16 in the division in which Providence of Burbank is No. 1.
In the Garden Grove League:
Garden Grove 59, La Quinta 35: Dory Aoun scored 30 points with 12 rebounds for the host Argonauts (17-7, 8-2), who finished second behind Rancho Alamitos.
In the Pacific Coast League:
Woodbridge 67, Beckman 47: Four players, led by Michael Scarlett's 16 points, scored in double figures for the host, league-champions Warriors (19-7, 9-1).
In the San Joaquin League:
Saddleback Valley Christian 71, Orangewood Academy 29: Nick Worrell scored 21 points and Alpha Ndaq added 18 for the host, league-champion Warriors (19-7 overall, 10-0 league).
In nonleague:
Padre Pio 76, Cornerstone Christian of Wildomar 52: Vincent Soto scored 28 points and Kevin Crostic and Matthew Odou added 20 points apiece for the host Rebels (18-7), who are ranked No. 12 in CIF-SS Division 6.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
