MOORPARK COLLEGE TOURNAMENT : Big 2nd Half Gives Title to Moorpark

Moorpark College used a balanced scoring attack and a fast-breaking offense in the second half to break open a close game and knock off Mt. San Antonio, 74-59, in the championship game of the 22nd Moorpark College basketball tournament at Moorpark College on Saturday.

Forward Mike Waggoner scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half and backup center Rich Murphy came off the bench to score 11 of his 14 points after intermission. Both players helped key a 14-2 run during a four-minute span in the second half for Moorpark (8-1), which last won this tournament in 1986.

“We turned it on again in the second (half) and we ran our transition game,” Moorpark Coach Al Nordquist said. “We picked up a lot of fouls running our offense.”

Moorpark converted 26 of 29 free throws (90%).

Sam Crawford, the tournament’s most valuable player, and all-tournament selection Damian Wilson paced the Raiders with 16 points each. Moorpark placed four scorers in double figures.

Crawford’s three-point jump shot at the halftime buzzer gave Moorpark a 31-28 lead and set the stage for its offensive blitz.

Jason Ferguson led Mt. SAC (5-5) with 17 points.

In the third-place game:

Ventura 101, Pasadena City 79--Uba Satterfield scored 25 points and DiJon Bernard added 20 points and 10 rebounds to pace the victorious Pirates.

Center Lester Neal had 18 points and nine rebounds as Ventura improved its record to 8-2.

Brenton Moore paced Pasadena City (5-5) with 16 points and Charles Henson added 15.