SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONALS : Kennedy Shoots at Torrey Pines Until Job’s Done

So Kennedy High School defeated San Diego Torrey Pines, 71-68, Tuesday night in the first round of the Southern California Regional Division II playoffs at Kennedy. So it did it by shooting just 35% from the floor, and making just 4 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter, including missing the front ends of four one-and-one opportunities.

How did Kennedy do it? Volume, volume, volume.

The Fighting Irish had taken 62 shots by the end of the third quarter. Their offense consisted of a pass and a shot or a drive and a shot. Anything more seemed to constitute a slowdown tactic.

Playing against a team much taller--Torrey Pines’ front line stands 6-feet 9-inches, 7-0, 6-7--Kennedy decided to run past and shoot over. The Fighting Irish made 10 three-point shots. For you math buffs, that’s 30 points and 42% of Kennedy’s scoring.

Kennedy’s Mike Keith had five three-pointers himself, scoring 24 points in all to lead his team.

“Anyone on this team has the green light to shoot at anytime,” said John Mayberry, Kennedy coach.

With Keith scoring 10 points, including two three-pointers, Kennedy took a 12-2 lead early in the first quarter. That opening flurry set a pace for the game, which never slowed. The teams ran this way and that. Play became ragged at times--there were 13 fouls called in the first quarter. Three players eventually fouled out.

Torrey Pines’ strong inside game began to dominate in the second quarter and led it to a 42-39 halftime lead.

The Torrey Pines’ lead grew to seven points midway through the third quarter as forwards Courtie Miller (6-7, 19 points) and Kevin Flanagan (6-9, 21 points) jumped over and and got inside of Kennedy’s zone.

But near the end of the third quarter and Torrey Pines attempting to set up for one shot, Kennedy’s Maurice Keith stole a pass and made a layup as time ran out to cut Torrey Pines’ lead to 59-55. A signal of things to come.

Kennedy outscored Torrey Pines, 12-3, in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 67-62 lead.

But Kennedy went suddenly cold, unable to score for more than three minutes, and Torrey Pines came back. When 7-0 center Neal Pollard made a five-foot bank shot, Torrey Pines led 68-67 with 48 seconds left.

Kennedy’s Mike Pettingill was fouled with 42 seconds, then missed the front end of the one-and-one, but Mike Keith wormed inside of Miller and Flanagan and got the rebound. He kicked the ball outside to Pettingill, who passed to Glenn Tarlton cutting through the lane. Tarlton made a driving layup and was fouled. His made free throw put Kennedy ahead for good, 69-68.

Mike Keith’s rebound was a key but not overly surprising because the Fighting Irish, whose tallest player is Mike Williams at 6-5, did an exceptional job of rebounding against the much taller Torrey Pines. Torrey Pines won the rebound battle, but just 42-38.

Kennedy plays Bakersfield Foothill Thursday in the semifinals.