HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL : Mt. Carmel’s Third Quarter Paces Victory Over Lincoln

It’s still December, and already Mt. Carmel is in midseason form.

The No. 10 Sundevils, unbeaten in seven games, defeated No. 5 Lincoln, 87-70, Thursday in the 44th Kiwanis Invitational boys’ basketball tournament.

With the victory, Mt. Carmel advanced to tonight’s championship game against Poway at 8:15 p.m. at Serra.

“This game didn’t feel like a 17-point difference,” Mt. Carmel Coach John Marincovich said.

Perhaps he felt that way because Dana Pope’s 15-foot shot with five seconds left gave his team a 35-34 halftime lead.

But while Lincoln (4-5) gave its best effort in the first half, the second half belonged to Mt. Carmel, which went on a 14-4 run to open the third period. The Sundevils outscored Lincoln 28-18 in the third and 24-18 in the fourth.

“Fundamentally, (the Sundevils) are exceptionally sound,” Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski said.

So is Lincoln’s Berry Randle, who had 12 rebounds and a game-high 28 points. Pope led Mt. Carmel with 18 points.