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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVagESYRB6o
CLAIREMONT MESA – Facing La Jolla Country Day for the second time this season on Saturday, Otay Ranch exacted some revenge. In the I Have a Dream Classic at Horizon, the Mustangs controlled the tempo in a 63-49 win at Horizon that evened the score with the Torreys.
“We felt in the first game that we had too many missed layups and missed opportunities,” said Otay Ranch guard Alex Perez. “We came in pretty confident knowing that if we just played the way we play, we should get the win.”
Otay Ranch (12-4) took control of a close first half with a 9-0 run to close the second quarter. The Mustangs led 23-18 at the half, keeping a bigger La Jolla Country Day team off the board for the last four minutes of the half.
“We worked on help defense a lot in practice and that has been our main focus the whole year,” Perez said. “We have to want it more than the other team, especially if they are bigger than us.”
Both teams picked up the pace in the third quarter, playing into the hands of the speedy Mustangs and preventing La Jolla Country Day (9-6) from closing the gap. Otay Ranch had a six-point lead headed into the fourth quarter.
“In the third quarter we really picked up our defense and got out and ran. That’s how we wanted to play,” Perez said. “We’re not too big, so we need to out run teams.”
Still close midway through the fourth quarter, Otay Ranch put the game out of reach with outside shooting. With 2:15 left, Perez hit a three-pointer to put the Mustangs ahead 54-45 on their way to a 14-point win that avenged a loss to the Torreys in the San Diego Holiday Classic on Dec. 20.
“It feels really good,” Perez said. “I was so mad after that buzzer beater.”
Perez led all scorers with 20 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. Running the offense, the senior got the Mustangs going both by setting up teammates for open looks and calling his own number.
“My coach trusts me a lot because I’ve been on the team since I was a freshman,” Perez said. “He trusts me to make the plays, either for myself or my teammates. Whatever I have to do for the team, I’ll do it.”
Otay Ranch enters Mesa League play next week with the best record in the league. The Mustangs last won league in 2007-08, sharing the championship with Eastlake.
“We’ve had a tough schedule coming in and it’s for a reason – when we come into league we feel we’re more prepared than the other teams,” Perez said. “As a team we feel like we should go undefeated in league, we just have to play the way we need to play.”
For La Jolla Country Day, guard Sage Burmeister scored 18 points to lead the team. After opening the season with seven straight wins the Torreys have slowed down, including losses in three of their last four games.
Otay Ranch – 63 (10-13-19-21)
Perez 20, Andre James 14, Collins 9, Olaogun 6, Pizarro 2 (starters) Andrew Jones 8, Nelson 2, Villagracia 2
La Jolla Country Day – 49 (11-7-18-13)
Burmeister 18, Tuites 8, Watt 4, Bamford 6, M. Hershfield 2 (starters) Brewster 5, Damanhoury 5, Schlossberg 3
La Jolla Country Day guard Sage Burmeister shoots a jumper over a flying block attempt by Otay Ranch guard Alex Perez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVagESYRB6o
CLAIREMONT MESA – Facing La Jolla Country Day for the second time this season on Saturday, Otay Ranch exacted some revenge. In the I Have a Dream Classic at Horizon, the Mustangs controlled the tempo in a 63-49 win at Horizon that evened the score with the Torreys.
“We felt in the first game that we had too many missed layups and missed opportunities,” said Otay Ranch guard Alex Perez. “We came in pretty confident knowing that if we just played the way we play, we should get the win.”
Otay Ranch (12-4) took control of a close first half with a 9-0 run to close the second quarter. The Mustangs led 23-18 at the half, keeping a bigger La Jolla Country Day team off the board for the last four minutes of the half.
“We worked on help defense a lot in practice and that has been our main focus the whole year,” Perez said. “We have to want it more than the other team, especially if they are bigger than us.”
Both teams picked up the pace in the third quarter, playing into the hands of the speedy Mustangs and preventing La Jolla Country Day (9-6) from closing the gap. Otay Ranch had a six-point lead headed into the fourth quarter.
“In the third quarter we really picked up our defense and got out and ran. That’s how we wanted to play,” Perez said. “We’re not too big, so we need to out run teams.”
Still close midway through the fourth quarter, Otay Ranch put the game out of reach with outside shooting. With 2:15 left, Perez hit a three-pointer to put the Mustangs ahead 54-45 on their way to a 14-point win that avenged a loss to the Torreys in the San Diego Holiday Classic on Dec. 20.
“It feels really good,” Perez said. “I was so mad after that buzzer beater.”
Perez led all scorers with 20 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. Running the offense, the senior got the Mustangs going both by setting up teammates for open looks and calling his own number.
“My coach trusts me a lot because I’ve been on the team since I was a freshman,” Perez said. “He trusts me to make the plays, either for myself or my teammates. Whatever I have to do for the team, I’ll do it.”
Otay Ranch enters Mesa League play next week with the best record in the league. The Mustangs last won league in 2007-08, sharing the championship with Eastlake.
“We’ve had a tough schedule coming in and it’s for a reason – when we come into league we feel we’re more prepared than the other teams,” Perez said. “As a team we feel like we should go undefeated in league, we just have to play the way we need to play.”
For La Jolla Country Day, guard Sage Burmeister scored 18 points to lead the team. After opening the season with seven straight wins the Torreys have slowed down, including losses in three of their last four games.
Otay Ranch – 63 (10-13-19-21)
Perez 20, Andre James 14, Collins 9, Olaogun 6, Pizarro 2 (starters) Andrew Jones 8, Nelson 2, Villagracia 2
La Jolla Country Day – 49 (11-7-18-13)
Burmeister 18, Tuites 8, Watt 4, Bamford 6, M. Hershfield 2 (starters) Brewster 5, Damanhoury 5, Schlossberg 3
La Jolla Country Day guard Sage Burmeister shoots a jumper over a flying block attempt by Otay Ranch guard Alex Perez