PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Capistrano Valley Overcomes Sluggish Start, Beats Moreno Valley, 67-58

After a sloppy, unproductive first half, Capistrano Valley High School found some consistency Monday night.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give the Cougars a 67-58 victory over Moreno Valley in the first round of the Tournament of Champions at Ocean View High School.

Chris Kostoff scored nine points in a 24-7 run that gave the Cougars (5-0) a 57-43 lead with three minutes remaining. Kostoff finished with 23 points, 18 of which came in the second half.

His play offset a sluggish performance by Scott McCorkle, who had the flu. McCorkle scored 24 points, but made only 10 of 25 shots.

“With Scott sick, I felt like I had to do a little more on offense,” Kostoff said. “We can’t rely on Scott all the time, even when he’s healthy.”

With the score tied early in the second half, Moreno Valley (3-2) scored eight consecutive points to take a 39-31 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter. The Cougars responded by outscoring the Vikings, 12-2, to take a 47-41 lead going into the fourth quarter.

McCorkle then scored seven points in a 10-2 run to give Capistrano Valley a 57-43 lead with three minutes left.

Neither team played well in the first half, which ended in a 24-24 tie.

Capistrano Valley shot poorly, making 10 of 31 shots. The Vikings, meanwhile, had trouble with the Cougars’ half-court press and turned the ball over 12 times.

“I think that may have been the worst half of basketball a Capistrano Valley team has ever played,” Coach Mark Thornton said. “We didn’t get much better in the second half. It was ugly, but it’s a win.”

Eric Dahl scored 20 points to lead Moreno Valley.

In the Irvine World News boys’ tournament:

Millikan 95, Orange Lutheran 72--Senior Kent Dowding had 20 points and Caryl Cole added 27 for Orange Lutheran (2-2), but Millikan (5-1) won easily at Christ College Irvine. Senior Ibn Maddred had 21 to lead Millikan.

Irvine 81, Long Beach Wilson 36--Junior John Molle had 40 points to lead Irvine (3-2) over visiting Wilson (3-3).

Corona del Mar 64, Laguna Hills 46--Mark Flint had 16 points and John Paulsen 15 to lead Corona del Mar (3-2). Todd Petersen had 17 points for Laguna Hills.

Woodbridge 84, Villa Park 45--Toby Ramos led Woodbridge (5-1) with 18 points--all on three-pointers--at Woodbridge. Mike Mathei added 14 points for the Warriors.

Santa Ana 75, Garey 72--Jose Chavez clinched the victory in the last three seconds by making two free throws, his only points of the game, at Woodbridge. Chauncey Woolridge scored 24, including four three-pointers, for Santa Ana.

Esperanza 81, University 80--Brian Smith missed a 12-foot shot at the buzzer as the Trojans lost at home. Joe Foss scored 38 points for Esperanza.

In the La Quinta boys’ tournament:

Huntington Beach 91, Torrance 89--Rick Robinson scored 52 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, but Torrance’s rally fell short. Mustafa Abdi scored 30 points for the Oilers.

In nonleague boys’ games:

Capistrano Valley Christian 53, St. Margaret’s 49--Israel Hogue had 18 points to lead Capistrano Valley Christian. Ryan Westendorf had 23 for host St. Margaret’s (2-1).

Buena Park 58, Glenn 54--Donyell Collins made two free throws with 15 seconds remaining in the game to give Buena Park a four-point lead. Collins led the Coyotes (2-3) with 15 points.

In the Artesia girls’ tournament:

Kennedy 53, Pius X 44--Valerie Ruiz scored 23 points and Michelle Harris had 20 to lead Kennedy (2-3) in a consolation semifinal game.

In the Beverly Hills girls’ tournament:

Estancia 74, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 20--Melody Earle had 18 points, five assists and six steals and Gaby Trujillo scored 12 for Estancia (2-1) in the first-round game.

In the first round of the Brea-Olinda girls’ tournament:

Katella 47, Diamond Bar 34--Margaret Harker had 13 points, Karen Jensen added nine points and Dawn Vance had 12 rebounds for Katella (3-1).

El Toro 75, Costa Mesa 42--Kari Yoshioka had 29 points, including three three-pointers, for El Toro (4-1). Costa Mesa (1-3) was led by Olivia Dicamille’s 10 points.

Palmdale 58, Foothill 38--Stacy Hipsak had 12 points and Steinle 11, but Foothill (1-2) lost at Brea-Olinda High.

In the Savanna girls’ tournament:

Edison 69, Corona 37--Debbie Fisher had 40 points and set a Southern Section record for three-pointers by converting 10 for Edison (3-2). The previous best was eight, accomplished twice.

In nonleague girls’ games:

Capistrano Valley Christian 35, St. Margaret’s 16--Carrie Shannon had 16 points and Mireya Alvarez scored eight and had 12 rebounds for the visiting Eagles (1-3).

Santa Ana 41, Troy 29--Gracie Lopez led visiting Santa Ana (3-3) with 18 points and 17 rebounds.