SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A Roundup : Capo Valley Runs Away After Close Start, 72-57

Capistrano Valley High School outscored Damian, 19-2, in the final 3 1/2 minutes to break open a close game and coast past the Baseline League runner-up, 72-57, at Dana Hills High School.

The Cougars, South Coast League co-champion, trailed Damien, 53-48, with 5:06 remaining and 55-53 with 3:49 left.

Capistrano Valley point guard Scott McCullough hit a 15-foot jumper, added a three-point play and made 6 of 6 free throws in the final 1:17.

McCullough scored 19 points and made 9 of 9 free throws to lead a remarkable free-throw shooting effort by the Cougars. Capistrano Valley (18-8) made its first 17 from the line and finished 26 for 29.

Damien (18-8) outshot the Cougars from the field, 49% to 41%. But the Spartans were outscored, 26-7, at the line.

Lynwood 53, Mission Viejo 49--Todd Matthews missed a shot with four seconds and the Dibalos (16-9) down by a point, 50-49. Lynwood (20-5) then made three free throws in the final four seconds.

Matthews finished with 14 points. Mission Viejo was led by Jeff Herman’s game-high 23 points.

Adrian Jackson scored 20 points for Lynwood, including both ends of a one-and-one with four seconds left.

Santa Ana 63, Gahr 53--Four Santa Ana starters scored in double figures as the Saints advanced to the second round at home. Bobby Joyce led Santa Ana, which won the Century League, with 19 points. Jeff Stewart scored 14 and Willie Lane and Leo Leon 10 each for Santa Ana (21-6).

Nogales 74, Foothill 68 (OT)--The Knights (14-12) forced an overtime when Pat Dorn scored on a layup with four seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, 67-67. Foothill missed all seven shots it attempted in overtime, and the Nobles (20-5) won easily.

Foothill’s Greg Reiber scored a game-high 19 points. All five Nogales starters scored in double figures and that paid off for the Nobles, the second-place Sierra League team.

Nogales jumped ahead, 18-6, midway through the first quarter, but the Knights caught them 20-20 late in the first quarter.

Foothill led, 35-35, at halftime before Nogales took a 53-48 lead into the fourth quarter.

Faris Manning had a chance to clinch the game for Nogales with 14 seconds left in regulation but he missed the second shot of a one-and-one and Dorns’ layin got the Knights into overtime.