http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOO8C7_3mFk
Lancers end championship drought with win over Panthers
Falling short three of the last four seasons in the Division IV title game, Francis Parker finally broke through. The 3-seed Lancers controlled the tempo to beat 9-seed Horizon 59-53 on Saturday at the University of San Diego.
“It has been a long time coming,” said Francis Parker head coach Jim Tomey. “We’ve had a lot of disappointments on this floor.”
Trailing by six after a slow, physical first quarter, Francis Parker took the lead in the second up with an 8-0 run, sparked by a pair of threes from guard Andrew Greenberg. The Lancers scored the last six points of the half to take a 29-23 lead into the break.
“We wanted to run, push the tempo and get some easy buckets and I think we did that well,” said Francis Parker forward Eric Norman.
Francis Parker (18-9) kept the game fast after halftime and led by 10 after the third quarter. After scoring only 30 points against Bishop’s in last year’s title game, the Lancers had rolled up 50 by the end of the third quarter.
“This team is a little different than last year’s team. It can go and we’re deep,” Tomey said. “That ultimately caused them problems.”
Horizon (10-20) mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, slowly cutting into Francis Parker’s lead. Panthers forward Omar Richards made it a three-point game with 42 seconds left, but on the ensuing possession, guard Deon Randall hit two free throws to seal Francis Parker’s first section title since 1983.
“We worked hard all year and our goal the entire season has been CIF,” Norman said. “Every time we break the huddle it has always been CIF. It feels good.”
For Tomey, the title is his eighth in 15 seasons. His last section crown came in Division III with University of San Diego High School in 1999.
“It’s the first one with Parker and I’ve had a couple seniors that I was really hoping we could shove off with a title,” Tomey said. “I’m glad they were able to come through.”
Randall led Francis Parker with 21 points, scoring 19 in the second half. Norman (13 points) and Greenberg (12) also finished in double figures for the Lancers.
“We’re peaking at the right time and playing our best basketball right now,” Norman said. “If we keep our momentum going, we can make a state run.”
For Horizon, guard Devyn Iglehart kept the Panthers in the game, scoring a game-high 27 points. Forward Omar Richards added 13 in the loss.
Francis Parker – 59 (8-21-21-9)
Randall 21, Norman 13, Greenberg 12, Dunklin 9, Colachis 0 (starters) Blake 2, Fitzner 2
Horizon – 51 (14-9-17-13)
Iglehart 27, Richards 13, Byrd 6, Elegado 3, Wiginton 2 (starters) Jones 2
Francis Parker guard Dalante Dunklin drives against Horizon guard Devyn Iglehart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOO8C7_3mFk
Lancers end championship drought with win over Panthers
Falling short three of the last four seasons in the Division IV title game, Francis Parker finally broke through. The 3-seed Lancers controlled the tempo to beat 9-seed Horizon 59-53 on Saturday at the University of San Diego.
“It has been a long time coming,” said Francis Parker head coach Jim Tomey. “We’ve had a lot of disappointments on this floor.”
Trailing by six after a slow, physical first quarter, Francis Parker took the lead in the second up with an 8-0 run, sparked by a pair of threes from guard Andrew Greenberg. The Lancers scored the last six points of the half to take a 29-23 lead into the break.
“We wanted to run, push the tempo and get some easy buckets and I think we did that well,” said Francis Parker forward Eric Norman.
Francis Parker (18-9) kept the game fast after halftime and led by 10 after the third quarter. After scoring only 30 points against Bishop’s in last year’s title game, the Lancers had rolled up 50 by the end of the third quarter.
“This team is a little different than last year’s team. It can go and we’re deep,” Tomey said. “That ultimately caused them problems.”
Horizon (10-20) mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, slowly cutting into Francis Parker’s lead. Panthers forward Omar Richards made it a three-point game with 42 seconds left, but on the ensuing possession, guard Deon Randall hit two free throws to seal Francis Parker’s first section title since 1983.
“We worked hard all year and our goal the entire season has been CIF,” Norman said. “Every time we break the huddle it has always been CIF. It feels good.”
For Tomey, the title is his eighth in 15 seasons. His last section crown came in Division III with University of San Diego High School in 1999.
“It’s the first one with Parker and I’ve had a couple seniors that I was really hoping we could shove off with a title,” Tomey said. “I’m glad they were able to come through.”
Randall led Francis Parker with 21 points, scoring 19 in the second half. Norman (13 points) and Greenberg (12) also finished in double figures for the Lancers.
“We’re peaking at the right time and playing our best basketball right now,” Norman said. “If we keep our momentum going, we can make a state run.”
For Horizon, guard Devyn Iglehart kept the Panthers in the game, scoring a game-high 27 points. Forward Omar Richards added 13 in the loss.
Francis Parker – 59 (8-21-21-9)
Randall 21, Norman 13, Greenberg 12, Dunklin 9, Colachis 0 (starters) Blake 2, Fitzner 2
Horizon – 51 (14-9-17-13)
Iglehart 27, Richards 13, Byrd 6, Elegado 3, Wiginton 2 (starters) Jones 2
Francis Parker guard Dalante Dunklin drives against Horizon guard Devyn Iglehart