Prep Basketball BOYS : Dyrek’s Return Helps St. Francis Win Again

Did the St. Francis High basketball team miss center Matt Dyrek when he was injured earlier this season?

You bet it did.

Since his return six games ago from strained ankle ligaments, the 6-7 Dyrek has led the Golden Knights to five victories, including Tuesday night’s 62-60 thriller over Alemany at St. Francis High in La Canada.

Dyrek scored 21 points and grabbed a game-leading 15 rebounds as the Knights won their fifth straight and moved into a tie with Crespi for the Del Rey League lead. Both teams are 5-1 in league play.

St. Francis, 9-8 overall and 3-7 with Dyrek out of the lineup, won Tuesday’s game at the free-throw line. The Knights, who led most of the game but had to come from behind in the fourth quarter, made 24 of 30 free throws for 80 percent. They were eight of nine in the fourth period.

Dyrek, who was 11 of 13 from the free-throw line, took an inbounds pass under the basket from Ed Lund and scored the winning basket with one second left. He was fouled on the play and hit the free throw to put St. Francis ahead, 62-60.

Alemany inbounded the ball following a timeout, and Tom Carlson’s desperation shot from backcourt bounced harmlessly off the backboard.

The Indians, 14-5 overall and 4-2 in the Del Rey, were playing without both their starting guards. James Moses, their leading scorer, is out for the year with a broken wrist and Vince Collet sat out Tuesday’s game with a sprained ankle.

Senior forward Dave Djolakian, the Del Rey’s top scorer last year, led Alemany with 27 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 1:17 to play. Guard Rick Giese chipped in with 13 points for the losers.