Stapleton’s Rare Roll Nets Leading Role

A streak shooter, Paul Stapleton didn’t get the opportunity to go on many rolls for Servite High School this season. It simply wasn’t his role to take many shots.

But in the second quarter of the State Division III boys’ basketball championship game Saturday, when Hayward Mt. Eden tried to shut down the Friars’ No. 1 threat, 6-foot-7 center Steve Marusich, Stapleton was left open.

Stapleton, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, made four consecutive three-point shots as Servite increased a slim lead to a 12-point margin. Stapleton finished with 20 points--one fewer than Marusich--and made six three-pointers, a Division III championship game record, as the Friars won their first state championship.

“It hasn’t happened that often, but I know when I’m hot like that and (when it happens) I look to shoot it as much as I can,” Stapleton said.

Stapleton’s seven assists Saturday tied the record for a Division III championship game. Although he missed all three of his free throws, Stapleton’s shooting stood out. He made his first six three-point shots before missing four in the second half.

Stapleton, in his first season on the varsity, had a similar flurry earlier this season in the Valencia tournament when he made five three-pointers in the third quarter of a semifinal game against El Modena.

But that performance--a regular season-high of 15 points--was the exception. His scoring average was about six points a game. It was a rarity for him to even shoot five three-pointers in a game. Consequently, his accuracy suffered and he began to worry that Coach Richard Smith might bench him.

“When you shoot three or so times a game, you’ve got to make every one count,” Stapleton said.

But Smith said he never lost faith that Stapleton could shoot well.

“If you watched Paul (in practice), you weren’t surprised at what he did in the state championship game,” Smith said.

TOP PERFORMERS

Adrian Brown won the 110-meter high hurdles (14.8 seconds) and the long jump (21-10 1/2) to lead Huntington Beach to the team title at the Beach Cities Invitational Saturday at Newport Harbor High School.

Kevin Lovingier pitched a no-hitter, striking out 19 as Laguna Hills defeated Costa Mesa, 18-0, in a Pacific Coast League baseball game Friday. Lovingier also had two hits and scored four runs.

Dan O’Neil made two free throws with eight seconds remaining to give Mater Dei a 62-60 victory over San Francisco Riordan in the State Division I championship game Saturday. O’Neil scored a team-high 19 points.

Phoupet Singbandith of Magnolia won the Katella Relays’ triple jump with a leap of 49 feet 1 1/2 inches and the long jump with a leap of 23-2 1/2. Both marks were wind-aided.

Paul Stapleton

Servite High School

* Position: Guard

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-0, 150, Senior

* Last Week: Stapleton scored 20 points, including six three-point shots, in a 67-51 victory over Hayward Mt. Eden in the State Division III championship game Saturday. His six three-pointers broke the Division III championship game record and his seven assists tied the record.

* Season: Stapleton averaged six points.