Rio Mesa’s Convincing Win Fails to Impress Coach

Rio Mesa High, sparked by forward Jeff Garner’s game-high 20 points, broke away from Channel League rival Hueneme after the first quarter and went on to a 62-44 victory in a championship quarterfinal game of the Hart tournament.

However, Spartan Coach Steve Wolf is not impressed by his team’s performance.

“We’re not playing well. We’ve gone three games in a row where we’re not playing well,” Wolf said, shaking his head. “Everything is out of sync . . . the offense, the defense and the break.”

What may affect the Spartans more in the long run is the severity of forward Eric Thomas’ ankle sprain, which he sustained midway through the third quarter on a fast break. He sat out the remainder of the contest.

Rio Mesa opened the scoring on a Garner layup, but the next 7 minutes were mistake filled and the score was tied, 6-6, after one quarter.

Thomas scored 9 of Rio Mesa’s 18 second-quarter points, including a 3-point basket from the baseline, to give the Spartans a 24-18 halftime advantage.

Rio Mesa maintained a 10-point lead through most of the fourth quarter, then erupted for an 8-2 run after a fast-break slam dunk by Garner.

Rio Mesa finished off the Vikings on a 4-point play by Garner, who swished a 3-point shot from the top of the key and made the ensuing free throw.

St. Francis 69, St. Genevieve 60--Allen Freemon scored 23 points and the Knights (8-4) staged a 19-4 run in the third quarter to overcome a 30-23 halftime deficit in a championship quarterfinal game.

Canyon 60, Royal 55--The Cowboys outscored the Highlanders, 23-12, in the final quarter to advance to a semifinal showdown against St. Francis.

Jamil Austin scored a game-high 17 points to lead Canyon (4-5). Russell Myers scored 16 points and J. P. Ouellette added 15 for Royal (4-6).

Westlake 68, Beverly Hills 66--Guard Jeff Maurer made 2 free throws with 38 seconds remaining to defeat Beverly Hills, the defending tournament champion, and launch the Warriors into a consolation semifinal against Alemany.

Beverly Hills guard Jacob Poura’s 3-point attempt as time expired bounced off the front of the rim.

Forward Kurt Schwan led Westlake with 34 points and 12 rebounds.

Alemany 65, Palmdale 60--Behind a game-high, 22-point effort by Jon Beauchemin, Alemany snapped its 8-game losing streak in the consolation quarterfinals.

Alemany (1-8) outscored the Falcons, 22-10, in the third period, capped by a 3-point basket by Beauchemin that gave the Indians a 48-38 lead.