Western Wins Kiwanis Title, 69-66

Western High School carried an 0-5 record when it made the trip from Las Vegas to San Diego Thursday for the 39th annual Kiwanis Basketball Tournament.

The Warriors, starting two sophomores and a freshman, had lost several close games. Coach Joe Stein hoped a change in scenery would do his players good.

It did. Western won three straight games, capped by a 69-66 triumph over Mira Mesa Saturday in the Unlimited Division championship game.

The Warriors, the first non-San Diego team to win a Kiwanis title in 29 years, rallied from a two-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.

The Unlimited Division game capped a tripleheader of Kiwanis championship games played Saturday at Serra.

Stein said Western’s showing in San Diego “has to really help us.”

“Losing is contagious, but winning can be, too,” he said. “You win one game, good things can happen. And this will make our trip home a lot easier.”

Mira Mesa Coach Tim Cunningham, whose team is 7-2, was also pleased.

“I thought we played well,” he said. “We almost had it. This was the same type of game we played and won earlier this season.”

Mira Mesa played without three starters. Bill Lee and Mike Eicher were sidelined by injuries and Eric Coffin was out of town.

After the first half ended in a 32-32 tie, Western had several opportunities to pull away in the second half. A jumpshot by Corey Cole put the Warriors ahead, 44-35, midway through the third quarter. But Mira Mesa rallied to tie the score at 47-47 on a 10-footer by DeWayne Odom with 1:27 left in the period.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Western freshman Tony Johnson scored seven straight points to give the Warriors a 60-53 lead. Again the Marauders fought back, catching Western at 64-64 when Sean Carter scored inside.

Mira Mesa’s Scott Cumming then stole the ball and beat two Western defenders down the court for a layup that put the Marauders ahead, 66-64, with 2:08 to play.

Johnson tied the score at 66-66 when he hit an 8-footer with 1:20 left. After a Mira Mesa turnover, Cole sank a free throw with 36 seconds left to give Western a 67-66 lead.

On their next possession, the Marauders tried to force the ball inside, but John Hines intercepted the pass, was fouled and made two free throws to ensure the Western win.

In the other championship games:

In the Limited Division:

Serra 79, El Capitan 57--The Conquistadors broke open the game with a flurry of fast-break baskets in the second quarter.

After a first quarter that ended with Serra ahead by one, 22-21, the Conquistadors outscored the Vaqueros, 25-9, in the second period.

Serra (10-1), which won its first Kiwanis championship, was led by a trio of 6-1 seniors. Steve Smith had 14 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists.

Serra’s Deven Moran was the game’s high scorer with 26 points. Anthony Moore added 20 for the Conquistadors.

Aaron Johnson led El Capitan (6-3) with 23 points, 17 in the first half.

Serra gradually stretched its slim early lead in the second quarter, moving ahead, 38-28, with 2:30 left in the half.

Then the Conquistadors moved into high gear, scoring nine straight points to take a 47-28 lead with 19 seconds until halftime. Moran, Smith, Moore and Michael Karp did all of the scoring in the uprising.

The Conquistadors moved ahead by 21 on a basket by Matt Van Scoyc with 6:30 left in the third quarter.

El Capitan, led by Geoff Adams, closed the gap to 13 at one point in the fourth quarter, but could come no closer. Adams scored 10 points in the second half and 12 overall.

In the Classified Division final:

Castle Park 62, Ramona 49--The Trojans used a balanced scoring attack and a tenacious press to win their first Kiwanis title since 1970.

Eleven Castle Park players scored, led by Javier Nunez with 14 points. The Trojans (8-0) also made 22 of 32 free throws, 16 of 23 in the second half.

Ramona (5-4), which had a five-game winning streak, was paced by Mike Pendell’s 26 points.

Castle Park took a 6-0 lead and never trailed. The Bulldogs tied the score several times in the first half, the last time coming at 26-26 late in the second quarter.

Brian Cauley (13 points) coverted two free throws and Nunez made a basket to give the Trojans a 30-26 halftime lead.