ORANGE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT : Airey Scores 32 Points, Capistrano Valley Wins

Tom Airey, Capistrano Valley High School’s sharp-shooting guard, didn’t play much football or baseball as a youngster.

Baseball was too boring. Football never interested him. Instead, Airey spent hours on a basketball court, perfecting his jump shot.

The long hours paid off Friday night. Airey put on a show, making 10 of 15 three-point attempts in Capistrano Valley’s 69-60 victory over San Francisco Riordan in the semifinals of the Orange Holiday Tournament in Chapman College’s Hutton Sports Center.

Airey, who finished with 32 points, repeatedly burned Riordan (8-3) for long shots from the top of the key after getting screens from teammate Steve Ransom. Airey was so effective from behind the three-point line that he did not attempt a two-point shot.

“He lit it up,” Capistrano Valley Coach Steve Thornton said. “I thought we set some great picks for him. He read the defense, and it’s tough to stop those screens.

“We have two or three options for him off those screens and he picked his plays almost perfectly. They pushed him out, but he showed he has pretty good range. He was hitting 22- and 23-footers.”

Capistrano Valley (13-1) also got a big lift from center Brett McCorkle and some accurate free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter to move into tonight’s championship game.

McCorkle made three consecutive shots off baseline moves early in the fourth quarter to give Capistrano Valley a 54-49 lead with 5 minutes 2 seconds remaining. McCorkle finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Capistrano Valley sealed the victory by making 10 consecutive free throws, including four straight by seldom-used guard Jason Perry. Thornton was forced to use 11 players because four players had four or more fouls.

“We can go 11 deep and I had to go that deep into the bench tonight,” Thornton said. “We beat one of the top programs in the state with a good team effort, so I’m very pleased.”

Riordan forward Rodney Glover, a 190-pound senior, and center Jaha Wilson, a 190-pound sophomore, each scored 16 points.

In the other semifinal:

Mater Dei 63, Santa Clara 53 (OT)--The Monarchs scored 10 points and held Santa Clara scoreless in the three-minute overtime period to win for the seventh time in their past eight games.

Mater Dei (9-3) blew a nine-point lead with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Santa Clara (12-3) scored five points in one second and added a four-point play with 28 seconds left to tie the game.

Santa Clara got five quick points when center Stevie Amara scored with 2:27 remaining and was fouled after the shot. Mater Dei inbounded the ball to Amara a second later, he scored and was fouled. Amara completed a three-point play to cut Mater Dei’s lead to 47-45.

Santa Clara guard Art Barron’s four-point play with 28 seconds remaining tied the game, 51-51, and then Amara made two free throws with 11 seconds left to give the Saints a 53-51 lead.

But Mater Dei guard Reggie Geary, who led all scorers with 27 points, made two free throws with seven seconds left to send the game into overtime.