BEVERLY HILLS TOURNAMENT : Saugus Manages Only 17 Points as Rio Mesa Rolls

An observer noted the Rio Mesa High basketball team had allowed only 68 points in winning its last two games.

“Good coaching!,” Spartan Coach Steve Wolf joked.

If getting all of your players in uniform is good coaching, then he’s right.

Rio Mesa crushed Saugus, 56-17, Wednesday in a championship quarterfinal of the Beverly Hills tournament, a victory that came one day after the Spartans had upset Notre Dame, 58-51.

Those two games just happened to be the first two in which the Spartans had all of their key players.

Junior forward Adam Woodward had been out because of a sprained middle finger. Junior swingman Don DiDomizio had been missing because of an injury sustained during football season. Senior guard Tim Nunnery had back problems.

Without its roster intact, Rio Mesa (2-3) lost its first three games.

“We’ve had two games in a row now where we’ve played really well,” Wolf said. “But I still have no idea how good we’re going to be.”

He soon will have a better idea.

Rio Mesa will meet unbeaten Channel League rival Ventura on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a semifinal game.

Against Saugus, the Spartans were led by senior center Jade Peterson with 13 points, nine in the first half. Johnny Lemuz added 11 and Nunnery, who scored 23 against Notre Dame, added nine.

Defense keyed the Spartans’ effort, however. Saugus was held scoreless in the first quarter.

“I don’t think that’s ever happened to Saugus before,” first-year Coach Eric Olsson said.

The Centurions made only six of 36 shots from the field, including one of 15 from beyond the three-point arc. Saugus made only four of 11 free throws and Mike Williams scored a team-high five points.

“No one shot well for us tonight,” Olsson said. “Our guards think they are good shooters, then I have to tell them that they’re not.”

Saugus (1-4) also committed 19 turnovers.

Ventura 76, St. Bernard 55--The Cougars (5-0) remained undefeated with a quarterfinal victory.

Center Anthony McCurtis led all scorers with 26 points for Ventura. Guard Darien Roberts scored 12 and forward Curt Vaughn added 10 and seven assists.

Glendale 50, Beverly Hills 48--David Sofro scored nine points in the fourth quarter to lead the Dynamiters (3-2) in a quarterfinal. With Glendale leading, 41-38, Sofro made two free throws and converted a three-point play.

Loyola 71, Royal 51--The Highlanders (3-3) shot 35% from the field in a quarterfinal loss. Rhamisi Thurman scored 13 for Royal.

Crespi 54, Westlake 52--Kyle Carden scored 19 points and Scott Eschner added 14 to lead the Celts (2-3) in a consolation quarterfinal. Westlake’s Brad Schwan scored a game-high 21 points.