BOSCO TECH TOURNAMENT : After Harbour Speaks Out, Camarillo Offense Opens Up in 71-63 Win Over Downey

The box score shows that David Harbour scored 39 points--15 coming on three-point baskets. And those in attendance likely will remember Fred Tepesano’s eight fourth-quarter free throws and his crucial rebounds down the stretch.

But for its part, the Camarillo High basketball team credits Friday’s 71-63 win over Downey to something that happened nearly 24 hours earlier. After a three-point loss to Schurr on Thursday, Camarillo Coach John Harbour closed the locker room door and upbraided his team.

“He really got on us, so we really wanted to play good,” Tepesano added.

Harbour apologized for his outburst before Friday’s game and did his best to remain patient throughout the following 32 minutes of basketball.

“I told them I wasn’t as down on them as it sounded Thursday,” Harbour said.

But apology or no, Harbour’s words had the intended effect.

“Oh, you bet we played a little harder,” Tepesano said with a smile.

As a result of Friday’s win, Camarillo (6-2) will meet Venice today at 4 p.m. for fifth place in the Bosco Tech tournament.

Camarillo and Downey exchanged leads several times Friday until midway through the third quarter when Camarillo grabbed a 37-35 lead on Dave Nathaniel’s driving layup.

Camarillo extended that advantage to 46-39 entering the fourth quarter but still could not pull away. Downey moved within 53-50 on Mark Morales’ free throw with 3:02 left, but Harbour made a pair of free throws and hit a jump shot to extend Camarillo’s lead to 57-50 with 2:41 left.

Downey again fought back and pulled within three, 63-60, with 24 seconds left, but Harbour made a free throw and Tepesano hit four of four shots from the line to give Camarillo a 68-60 lead with 17 seconds left.

Tepesano’s showing was just part of a revived Camarillo attack that has sputtered with starters Scott Foster and Rick Schnell ailing. Junior guard Brian Vellmure started and played well in Schnell’s absence. Leonard Lopez and Nathaniel provided strong rebounding at both ends of the floor.

“We were getting frustrated because we weren’t playing even close to our potential,” Vellmure said. “(Harbour’s talk) was something we had to take seriously.”

The coach agreed.

“We can’t sit around any more and say we’ve had bad luck with Foster and Schnell out,” John Harbour said. “The kids did a better job of taking control. We overcame our mistakes better and played a little more committed.”