PREP BASKETBALL : Boys’ Roundup : Kutas’ Shooting Is Right on Target as Westminster Gets Past Valencia

Senior guard Eric Kutas scored 26 points to lead Westminster High School to a 104-84 win over Valencia Saturday in the final of the Valencia Tournament.

Kutas scored consecutive three-point baskets to give the Lions (4-0) a 62-55 lead with 6:06 left.

“They didn’t respect me,” Kutas said. “They were watching last night, when I hit just one of three (three-point shots).”

Valencia (3-1) used a collapsing defense on Westminster’s 6-foot 10-inch center, Chris Towers. Despite the Tigers’ efforts, Tower finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds.

“We expect teams to collapse on him,” Westminster Coach Dick Katz said. “Last year when that happened, we didn’t have any outside shooting and it hurt us. This year, we have that new dimension. In our league, you have to have that to be successful.”

Westminster, which had advanced to the finals with victories over Troy, Sonora and El Modena, never led by more than four points before Kutas’ baskets.

The Tigers got 26 points from Bernie James. Rudy Lopez added 12.

Rancho Alamitos 70, Fontana 69 (OT)--The Vaqueros (1-2) trailed by 17 points at the start of the fourth quarter, but rallied with full-court pressure. Mike Willey hit a three-point basket with seven seconds left to send the game into overtime. Eddie Rivera’s free throw with nine seconds left won the game. Rancho Alamitos’ Tim Pavelec made seven three-point baskets and finished with 27 points. Willey and Sean Chetham each had 15 points.