Christian a Victory From State Title : Division V: Clark scores 48 as Patriots ease past Canoga Park Faith Baptist, 80-72, to earn trip to final in Oakland.

A basketball score of 80-72 would seem to be the result of a close game between two evenly matched teams.

Such was not the case Saturday in Christian’s victory over Canoga Park Faith Baptist in the Southern California Regional Division V boys’ final at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. After the Patriots jumped to a 40-22 halftime lead, Faith Baptist never got closer than 12 points until the final 50 seconds, when four Christian starters returned to the bench.

The victory sent Christian (19-11) to the Division V state championship in Oakland next Friday. Christian will play Colusa, which defeated Denair, 81-79.

“We had no idea we’d get this far,” forward Dave Piester said. “We had hoped to, and we had talked about it, and we started playing well as a team.

“Toward the second half of the season, there was more chemistry between us, and we began getting used to Tony (Clark). He’s a great player.”

Once again, Clark spurred the Patriots. He was 19 for 27 from the field, including four for eight on three-pointers, and six for nine from the line for a total of 48 points.

“Tony was on fire; he couldn’t miss,” said Stuart Mason, Faith Baptist’s coach. “We didn’t shoot well, and he shot the lights out.”

Said Clark: “I started out a little slow. We knew it was important to get out to an early lead.”

Faith Baptist tried early to contain Clark with a box-and-one defense, but outside shooting by Piester and Jeff Rose forced the Contenders into a man-to-man.

Christian led by five at the end of the first quarter, 19-14. Piester then made seven consecutive points (three field goals, including a three-pointer), and Clark concluded Christian’s first-half scoring with five field goals, the last two three-pointers, to make it 40-22.

Piester, a 6-6 junior forward, played one of his better games of the season, finishing with 18 points, including two three-pointers.

“He’s really improved from the last couple of games--he was pretty sluggish,” Coach Randy Wright said. “I’ve got to be pleased with all the kids. At the first of the year, we weren’t sure about the team or how far they’d go.

“They tried isolating Tony in the second quarter. You can’t play straight up against Tony. He continues to score.”

Down by 23 points, Faith Baptist (21-11) came out in the fourth quarter and scored six in a row to close the gap to 62-45. Within the next three minutes, Clark scored seven points, and Rose added a three-pointer, but the Contenders managed to creep to within 72-60 with 2:34 to play.

Faith Baptist could get no closer until it didn’t matter. Christian’s lead was 79-65 with 50 seconds left, and the Contenders finished with a 7-1 run.

“I am pleased that the kids did not give up when they were down by so much,” Mason said.

Alex Estrada, a 5-8 sophomore guard, scored 32 points for Faith Baptist, including three three-pointers.