PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Third quarter does in Torrey Pines

Chaparral's defense too much for Falcons in Holiday Classic final

By JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:13 AM PST ∞

Torrey Pines' Colin Porter is fouled by Chaparral's Greg Leslie at the Holiday Classic on Tuesday. (Photo by John Koster - For the North County Times)

CARMEL VALLEY ---- It was nothing fancy. No gimmick defenses or long-forgotten offensive sets.

"We just found our shooters and played good man-to-man defense," Chaparral High boys basketball coach Ed Coyle said after his Pumas played a rock-solid third quarter and handed host Torrey Pines a 64-58 loss in the championship game of the Mayors Division of the Holiday Classic on Tuesday evening.

The Pumas (12-2) trailed by two points at halftime after Torrey Pines (11-2) had outscored them 20-13 in a second quarter that saw the game tied or the lead change hands on 17-of-20 scoring possessions.

The third quarter, however, was all Chaparral. The Pumas opened with a 15-1 run and outscored the Falcons 18-7. Torrey Pines was 1-for-3 shooting, had just one rebound, and turned the ball over five times in the opening eight-minute stretch.

"No question, the third quarter was a killer," Torrey Pines coach John Olive said. "There were a lot of swings in the game. They started hot (getting out to a 15-10 lead), then we rallied. Then it was their turn again. We made it interesting down the stretch with a few threes, but it wasn't enough. They really didn't surprise us with anything. They played two defenses ---- a 1-3-1 zone and a man. And we ran our regular offense.

"We just went through a lull."

And the Falcons were 7-of-20 from the free-throw line.

"That's the difference," Olive said. "And to shoot like that at home on our rims ... Maybe if we shoot free throws better, it's a different game. But Chaparral is a good team ---- mature, athletic, strong. And they can shoot it.

"They're a complete team."

The Pumas made 10 3-pointers in the game. Tournament MVP Mitchel Anderson had four 3-pointers and finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Darren May also had 17 for the Pumas and made three 3-pointers.

Colin Porter led Torrey Pines with 14 points while Trevor Newquist added 12. Sophomore Nick Kerr and freshman Joe Rahon each had 11 for the Falcons.

"Jordan Hinzman did a nice job on Newquist," Coyle said.

Newquist and Chaparral freshman Xavier Johnson were named to the all-tournament team.

This was the second tournament win a row for Chaparral, which captured the Twentynine Palms Tournament before the holidays. The Pumas have won nine in a row.

The loss was the second in a row in a tournament final for Torrey Pines, which lost to La Costa Canyon in the championship game of the Kiwanis Tournament.

"We've been to three tournaments and won two; that's pretty good," Anderson said. "Torrey Pines is a good team. We played them in the summer, so we knew what to expect.

"But our defense shut them down."

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.