Dana Hills Basketball Tournament : McCorkle’s 31 Points Pace Cougars’ Victory

Scott McCorkle scored 31 points to lead Capistrano Valley High School to a 75-43 victory over Savanna in the final of the Dana Hills basketball tournament Saturday at Capistrano Beach.

Capistrano Valley (19-2 in summer play) used its aggressive inside game and pressing defense to build a 20-12 first-quarter lead. The Cougars extended their lead to 12 at halftime and outscored Savanna, 18-11, in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

“We have been having problems defensively this summer,” said Mark Thornton, Capistrano Valley coach. “But today, I was very pleased with our intensity. I was very happy with our inside game.

“And defensively, there was one point in the third quarter when we stole the ball from them three straight times. And we were able to run the ball against them as well.”

Capistrano Valley scored the game’s first six points en route to a 14-2 lead. Savanna narrowed the lead to six, but Nick Kust’s layup gave Capistrano Valley its first-quarter advantage.

McCorkle, who scored 17 points in the first half, had 11 in the second quarter as the Cougars built the lead to 14 points on three occasions. Savanna drew as close as 10 points, but Chris Kostoff’s layup as time ran out gave Capistrano Valley a 40-28 halftime lead.

The Cougars’ press, which turned three consecutive steals into three baskets, and McCorkle’s scoring--12 points--give Capistrano Valley a 58-39 lead after three quarters.

“Obviously, McCorkle’s a very good athlete and our leading scorer,” Thornton said. “He brings a lot of experience to our team, as does Kostoff and Bill Mazurie (a transfer student from Foothill High).”

Savanna was outscored by Capistrano Valley’s reserves, 15-6, in the fourth quarter.

Brett Hurney scored 11 points for Capistrano Valley. Kostoff and Kust each had eight.

Tim Tillman led Savanna with 11 points. Jim Priest, Ben Smith and Brian Bradberry each scored eight.