Prep Basketball BOYS : Crespi Too Tough for Notre Dame

Sparked by senior guard Brian Capp’s game-high 29 points, Crespi High School opened Del Rey League play by beating crosstown rival Notre Dame, 69-56, in front of a capacity crowd at Crespi Wednesday night.

Notre Dame led, 33-32, at the half but the Celts took command at the beginning of the fourth quarter after outscoring the Knights, 20-8, in the third.

“Notre Dame surprised us,” Crespi Coach Paul Muff said. “We haven’t given up 33 points in a half all season. I told my guys (at halftime) to settle down a bit. They didn’t recognize that Notre Dame was playing so well.”

The Knights’ 6-3 senior forward Brian Anderson scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the first half and teammate Maurice Delgado came off the bench to score 10. Delgado, a 5-11 senior, took his three first-half steals the length of the court for easy layups.

However, in the end, it was Notre Dame’s 17 turnovers and poor third-period shooting that proved too costly against the defending Del Rey League champions.

“I wasn’t surprised how we played in the first half,” first-year coach Matt Vickers said of his Knights. “But I was disappointed about how we played in the third period. I think we lost a little intensity on defense tonight. Crespi is so good, that when they get a lead it’s hard to come back.”

Crespi’s standout guard Joe Campanella had 20 points, two rebounds and as many assists. Alfie Basile led the Celts in assists with nine while teammate Steve Tanin had eight rebounds.

Capp, 6-3, added two rebounds and two assists to his 29-point performance but Muff thought he could have played better.

“He scored a lot of points but he had lapses,” Muff said. “The team itself had a lot of mental lapses. We can’t do that when we play them again.”

The Celts play the Knights again Jan. 25 at Notre Dame and both coaches agreed it will be an emotionally charged game.

“They’ll see a lot more of what we did in the first half when we get them on our court,” promised Vickers. “I think it’ll be a little different when we play again.”

The win improves Crespi’s overall record to 6-5 while the Knights fall to 3-7.