Foothill making habit of winning big
Foothill beat one of its top competitors by 25 points, but the best could be yet to come for the Knights.
"We're still not at our full potential," Foothill guard Myles Carrillo said.
When the Knights get there, they might be on their way to a special season. Foothill, ranked No. 4 in Orange County, defeated Woodbridge, 66-41, in a Sea View League boys basketball game Tuesday at Foothill.
Mike Atwater, a 6-foot-6 senior, led a balanced scoring effort for Foothill (16-2 overall, 2-0 league) with 15 points. Junior Rob Filley scored 13, and Carillo added 11.
Woodbridge, which beat El Toro last week, is 7-10, 1-1.
The Warriors, led by senior Ryan Garvin's 13 points, trailed, 48-37, going into the fourth quarter. Turnovers and missed shots in the first four minutes of the fourth kept the Warriors from making any sort of rally.
Foothill outscored Woodbridge by 11 in the fourth to win going away.
"We prepared well for this game," Carillo said. "We didn't give Woodbridge any good shots, because of our help-side defense."
That help-side defense — players shifting to fill the middle to contest shots, pick up a player who had driven past a Foothill defender, and filling the passing lanes — held Woodbridge to 12 baskets on 41 attempts.
Foothill coach Rusty Van Cleave said it is a pleasure to work with this group of Knights.
"I don't have to do a lot of talking during practice," Van Cleave said.
"We have a lot of seniors, they've been through it all, and they're the ones leading us."
Foothill plays host to Northwood on Friday, and then faces another top league contender next Tuesday when the Knights play at El Toro.
Woodbridge plays host to Trabuco Hills on Friday.
Also in the Sea View League:
Huntington Beach 38, Trabuco Hills 34: Vincent Oe and Jordan Reiese scored 11 points apiece and Jordan Castaneda added 10 as the visiting Oilers (8-9, 2-0) kept pace with league-leading Foothill.
In the Century League:
Villa Park 65, Tustin 61: Clint Bozner scored 25 points with 15 rebounds to lead the host Spartans (8-7, 1-1). Tanner Leonhardt led Tustin (12-6, 0-2) with 20 points.
No. 9 Canyon 67, El Modena 49: Chris Anderson's 14 points led the visiting Comanches (13-5, 2-0). Brent Mauritani scored 21 for El Modena (6-12, 0-2).
In the Pacific Coast League:
Corona del Mar 71, Irvine 48: Danny Cheek and Clayton Ragsdale both scored 19 points to pace the host Sea Kings (13-3, 2-0).
University 69, Laguna Hills 58: Ben Kwan scored 20 points, Christian Scott added 19 and Jed Borovik and Keon Hedayati contributed 16 points each for the host Trojans (9-7, 2-0).
Beckman 54, San Juan Hills 53: San Juan Hills trailed by 13 in the fourth quarter, but just came up short at home as Santiago Bocchi led the visiting Patriots (9-9, 1-1) with 16 points.
