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Foothills Christian falls to Pacific Hills in regional semifinals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXiXRe6gzc0

Knights final San Diego section team to be eliminated from state playoffs

With four of five starters returning next year, Foothills Christian will be one of the best Division V teams in the state. But for this year’s team, their state title run ended Thursday night with a 67-58 loss to Pacific Hills (North Hollywood) in the CIF southern California regional semifinals at Santana High School.

“We’re getting there,” Foothills Christian head coach Brad Leaf said. “We’ll probably be No. 1 in Division V next year starting off. We’re just slowly moving up.”

After a close first quarter, Pacific Hills opened up a lead in the second quarter with a 9-0 run. The Bruins had little trouble with Foothills Christian’s man-to-man defense and led 36-26 at halftime.

“They’re tough,” Brad Leaf said.

In the third quarter, Foothills Christian switched to a 2-3 zone and fought back into the game. It was a four-point game with 2:54 left in the quarter when Knights guard Troy Leaf drove to the hoop, was intentionally kicked from behind in midair by Bruins guard Julian Benarouche, and fell to the ground.

Following the foul, the officials convened and had a conference with both coaches. After the conference, Benarouche was whistled for a flagrant foul and remained in the game while Troy Leaf was whistled for a technical. Brad Leaf said that Troy Leaf was given the technical for his reaction – jumping up and confronting Benarouche after the whistle.

“One of the refs came over to me and said, ‘I’m sorry. That was a really bad call,’” Brad Leaf said. “That should have been four free throws and the ball. That’s the big difference in a close game like that.”

Foothills Christian entered the fourth quarter trailing by only one, but Pacific Hills quickly took the momentum in the fourth. Sitting out most of the third quarter in foul trouble, Bruins center Alex Osborne returned and scored the first six points in the fourth quarter.

The Knights came within two a few times in the final minutes, but could never take the lead. Down five with 38 seconds left, Foothills Christian guard Kalob Hatcher missed a runner and Pacific Hills snagged the rebound, ending any chances of a Knights’ victory.

“We just couldn’t make the big shot,” Brad Leaf said. “I wanted to get Troy some good looks in the last few minutes, but we just couldn’t get it to him.”

Troy Leaf led Foothills Christian (27-6) with a game-high 21 points, and guard Kalob Hatcher and forward Jvonte Brooks both finished with 17. Guard Derick Flowers led Pacific Hills (28-6) with 20 points.

Knights guard Kalob Hatcher shoots a runner

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Escondido planners nix office building switch to apartments

Not enough open space, not enough closets for Hickory Street plans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXiXRe6gzc0

Knights final San Diego section team to be eliminated from state playoffs

With four of five starters returning next year, Foothills Christian will be one of the best Division V teams in the state. But for this year’s team, their state title run ended Thursday night with a 67-58 loss to Pacific Hills (North Hollywood) in the CIF southern California regional semifinals at Santana High School.

“We’re getting there,” Foothills Christian head coach Brad Leaf said. “We’ll probably be No. 1 in Division V next year starting off. We’re just slowly moving up.”

After a close first quarter, Pacific Hills opened up a lead in the second quarter with a 9-0 run. The Bruins had little trouble with Foothills Christian’s man-to-man defense and led 36-26 at halftime.

“They’re tough,” Brad Leaf said.

In the third quarter, Foothills Christian switched to a 2-3 zone and fought back into the game. It was a four-point game with 2:54 left in the quarter when Knights guard Troy Leaf drove to the hoop, was intentionally kicked from behind in midair by Bruins guard Julian Benarouche, and fell to the ground.

Following the foul, the officials convened and had a conference with both coaches. After the conference, Benarouche was whistled for a flagrant foul and remained in the game while Troy Leaf was whistled for a technical. Brad Leaf said that Troy Leaf was given the technical for his reaction – jumping up and confronting Benarouche after the whistle.

“One of the refs came over to me and said, ‘I’m sorry. That was a really bad call,’” Brad Leaf said. “That should have been four free throws and the ball. That’s the big difference in a close game like that.”

Foothills Christian entered the fourth quarter trailing by only one, but Pacific Hills quickly took the momentum in the fourth. Sitting out most of the third quarter in foul trouble, Bruins center Alex Osborne returned and scored the first six points in the fourth quarter.

The Knights came within two a few times in the final minutes, but could never take the lead. Down five with 38 seconds left, Foothills Christian guard Kalob Hatcher missed a runner and Pacific Hills snagged the rebound, ending any chances of a Knights’ victory.

“We just couldn’t make the big shot,” Brad Leaf said. “I wanted to get Troy some good looks in the last few minutes, but we just couldn’t get it to him.”

Troy Leaf led Foothills Christian (27-6) with a game-high 21 points, and guard Kalob Hatcher and forward Jvonte Brooks both finished with 17. Guard Derick Flowers led Pacific Hills (28-6) with 20 points.

Knights guard Kalob Hatcher shoots a runner

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