Orange Holiday Basketball Tournament : Capistrano Valley Survives Scare, 85-81 : Behind Cole’s 34 Points, Orange Lutheran Nearly Pulls Off the Upset

Guard Bill Mazurie tipped in an errant shot with a minute remaining and then added a free throw with 13 seconds left to lift Capistrano Valley High School to an 85-81 victory over Orange Lutheran Tuesday in the opening round of the 24th Orange Holiday boys’ basketball tournament.

Mazurie spoiled a brilliant effort by Orange Lutheran in Chapman College’s Hutton Sports Center in the 16-team tournament. Orange Lutheran (6-2) held an 81-80 lead with 1:17 remaining after a pair of free throws by center Pat Bagateurian.

Capistrano Valley (8-3) responded with Mazurie’s tip and free throw and then a pair of free throws by forward Scott McCorkle to end Lutheran’s upset bid. It was the fifth consecutive victory for Capistrano Valley.

“We played well enough to win the game in the end, I guess,” said Mark Thornton, Capistrano Valley coach. “Luck prevailed in the end, but then you can’t take anything away from them. They’re a good team.”

Orange Lutheran, a 2-A division school with 500 students, outplayed Capistrano Valley, which has nearly 2,500 students, and led for most of the game. Forward Daryl Cole had a hot hand, scoring 34 points and stealing the limelight from McCorkle, Capistrano Valley’s more heralded forward.

McCorkle finished with 27 points, but he sat out most of the second quarter after getting his third foul. Mazurie added 21 points, including 8 points in the decisive fourth quarter.

“I thought we deserved to win,” said Jerry Simmons, Orange Lutheran coach. “A turnover and a couple of missed free throws were the difference. I think we proved we’re capable of playing with some of the county’s big teams.”

Capistrano Valley appeared to have the game neatly tucked away, holding a 79-73 lead with 3:55 remaining. But Orange Lutheran’s Jason Neben, who finished with 18 points, led a spirited comeback in which the Lancers ultimately took the lead, 81-80, on Bagateurian’s free throws.

In other first-round games:

Foothill 65, Kennedy 50--Kennedy (6-4) was outscored, 18-2, in the second quarter and never recovered. Foothill guard Todd Henrotin scored 6 of his game-high 21 points in the decisive quarter.

Mater Dei 83, Fullerton 47--Mike Morris, making his first start after an ankle injury, scored 28 points for Mater Dei (11-1). Dylan Rigdon scored 17 for Mater Dei. Pete Bach scored 20 for Fullerton (6-4), which had its 6-game winning streak snapped.

Saddleback 74, Miraleste 37--Guard Tony Agnew scored 18 points and center Malru Dottin added 16 points as Saddleback improved to 10-1.

El Toro 71, Orange 40--Khari Johnson scored 17 points, including 7 dunks, as the Chargers (7-4) won their fourth consecutive game.

Fountain Valley 70, L.B. Wilson 45--Fountain Valley won its ninth consecutive game without a loss by scoring 11 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 20-9 lead. Tom and Doug Weaver made 3-point shots during the streak.

Marina 55, University 49--Sophomore center Cherokee Parks scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds for Marina (7-5). University, playing without center Stefan Mumaw, was limited to only 13 points in the first half.