Serra Rallies to Defeat Point Loma

No. 4 Serra High School gained sole possession of second place in the Eastern League Friday night by defeating No. 8 Point Loma, 50-45, before 1,000 at Serra.

The Conquistadors improved their league record to 5-2 and overall record to 17-3. The Pointers are 4-3 and 13-9.

Deven Moran, who missed his four first-half field goal attempts, made up for it in the second half when Serra need him most. After Jim Brasher made a layup to put Point Loma ahead, 45-44, Moran made an 18-foot shot to put Serra ahead for good, 46-45, with 2:03 left. Moran finished with 10 points.

Tom Williams, Serra coach, said his team was fortunate.

“It’s nice when you can look bad and still win,” Williams said. “Deven didn’t have a very good game, but he hit the shots at the end.”

Point Loma tried to rally, but couldn’t. With the Pointers trailing, 46-45, Arlondo Hill’s 15-footer not only didn’t go in the basket, it didn’t even hit the rim.

Then, after Serra’s Mike Smith made a pair of free throws to make it 48-45 in favor of the Conquistadors, Point Loma’s Pat Brown missed a jumper.

Things didn’t look good for Serra after this first quarter. The Conquistadors made only 1 of 12 field goal attempts and trailed, 8-2, at one point.

However, Serra fought back and took their first lead with with 4:27 left in the half at 14-12. Anthony Moore, who had missed all four of his shots in the first quarter, got hot in the second, going 3 for 3. He and Steve Smith, who had six points in the second quarter, helped the Conquistadors take a 21-19 lead at the half.

Serra remained hot in the third quarter, making 6 of 11 field goal tries.

of the quarter.

Smith and Moore each had 14 points to lead Serra. Kenneth Dunaway and Dale Bryant each had 12 for the Pointers.

Serra fans went wild after the win, but Williams was more reserved.

“This game is important,” Williams said, “but we have to go to play a great game at Madison Tuesday night. Any team can beat any other in this league. You can’t say this is the one we had to win.”