SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I-AA : Capistrano Valley Staves Off Esperanza’s Bid to Pull Upset

In the end, the difference between Capistrano Valley and Esperanza was perhaps as wide as your thumb nail. And that’s how close Esperanza came to knocking off second-seeded Capistrano Valley in the second round of the Southern Section I-AA boys’ basketball playoffs Tuesday at Esperanza.

A three-point shot by Esperanza center Randy Wilson with 15 seconds left was just long, Capistrano Valley guard Tom Airey made two free throws at the other end, and Capistrano Valley wriggled into the quarterfinals with a 58-54 victory.

Airey had 18 points, making seven of eight free throws but only three of 11 three-point shots, to lead Capistrano Valley (25-3). The Cougars advanced to play Alhambra, a 66-60 upset winner over Lakewood, on Friday.

Matt Kordik, one of only two senior starters for Esperanza, had 23 points to lead the Aztecs (17-11).

“We knew this was going to be tough coming into this gym,” Capistrano Valley Coach Mark Thornton said.

He couldn’t have known Esperanza would rally from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to force a 54-54 tie with 1 minute 53 seconds left in the game. Nor could he have predicted that it would take a layup by point guard David Sedgwick on a pass from Aaron Rhoades with 43 seconds left to break the tie.

And Wilson’s narrow miss from the top of the key?

Certainly, conventional wisdom dictated that Capistrano Valley would have wrapped up matters long before it came to all of that.

Esperanza trailed, 33-20, with 7:10 left in the third quarter. But the Aztecs cut the deficit to 44-36 to start the fourth, then to 44-39 after sophomore Mike Thimgan drained a three-point basket.

A moment later, players from each team exchanged shoves following a held ball with 7:13 left. The officials quickly restored order, then decided to assess one technical foul to Capistrano Valley and three to Esperanza--two going to players leaving the Aztec bench.

Airey made five of six free throws, Kordik made both of his, and Capistrano Valley led, 49-41. And still, Esperanza fought back.

When Kordik slipped behind the Capistrano Valley defense for an easy layup to tie it at 54, there was bedlam.

But Sedgwick broke free, Wilson missed his three-pointer and Airey, fouled in desperation, made two free throws for insurance.

“This was a great experience for the kids,” Esperanza Coach Mark Hill said. “I really think we’re going to be a good basketball team next year.”