2-A PLAYOFFS : Agoura Slows Up to Upset Cabrillo
Junior guard Donnie Rea hit two free throws with 18 seconds left in overtime to lift Agoura High to a stunning, 54-53, second-round upset victory Tuesday over Cabrillo at Calabasas High.
Cabrillo, which was seeded fourth in the Southern Section 2-A playoffs, went into the game with a 20-4 overall record after winning the Los Padres League with an 11-1 record. Agoura tied for second place in the Frontier League with Nordhoff. The Chargers posted a 4-4 league record and were 12-11 overall.
Agoura Coach Bob LaBelle credits his defense with the win.
“I told the team before the game we had to slow it down,” LaBelle said. “I knew if we could make them play a half-court game we would win.
“I don’t think too many people thought we would make it to the playoffs, let alone get this far and win.”
The Chargers upset Suburban League champion Glenn, 55-48, on Friday.
Neither Agoura nor Cabrillo could manage more than a four-point lead in the game. The Chargers’ defense stifled Cabrillo’s usually impressive fast break. The Conquistadores’ failure to execute their speedy offense cost them the game. The score was tied, 16-16, at the end of the first period and Cabrillo led by only two at intermission
With the scored tied, 46-46, with fewer than three minutes left in the fourth period, Cabrillo worked for the last shot. Conquistadores guard Fitz Wilson was fouled with seven seconds left in regulation and the 6-0 senior went to the foul line. Wilson, who averaged 57% from the line this season, missed his first shot and Agoura rebounded at the buzzer.
In overtime with the Chargers leading, 52-51, Rea was fouled and hit his two clutch free throws 18 seconds before the buzzer. Cabrillo forward George Porter, who is the state intermediate-hurdles champion, scored an uncontested slam dunk for the Conquistadores’ final score.
Senior forward Steve Armstrong led all scorers with 22 points for Agoura, while teammates Mike Corridori and Rea each had 14 points. Wilson and Porter each scored 16 for Cabrillo, while junior Jim McIntyre chipped in 12 points for the Conquistadores.