Southern Section Boys’ Small Schools : Ventura Temple Christian Wins

Jeff Boehm and Mark Bauer combined for 50 points to lead Ventura Temple Christian to the Southern Section boys’ Small Schools title with an 81-63 win over Hesperia Christian Friday night at Victor Valley High.

Boehm, a 6-3 forward, was selected Most Valuable Player, as he scored 24 points and added nine assists. Bauer, a 6-6 junior center, scored 26 points and hit his last six shots of the game.

“It came down to us having five good players and they had three,” Dennis Judd, the winning coach, said. “They didn’t lose by getting rattled. We just executed better.”

Boehm scored 14 points in the second quarter to lead a 22-4 spurt by the Knights. That run wiped out an early 10-point Hesperia lead and opened up a 35-28 halftime advantage for Temple.

The Knights scored the first eight points of the second half to stretch the lead to 15. Hesperia closed within 10 points in the fourth quarter, before the Knights pulled away.

“We couldn’t stop their transition game,” said Hesperia Coach Bruce Comer. “We couldn’t contain their inside strength, either.”

Guard Matt Wiggins added 17 points and six steals for Temple. Hesperia was led by 6-5 center Chris Hahs with 18 points, while forwards Kurt Agens and Erik Brolsma added 16 apiece.

Temple closed the season with a 19-game winning streak to finish 23-2. Hesperia ended the season at 21-3.