SAN DIEGUITO BOYS’ BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Finnerans, Santa Margarita Romp

Santa Margarita’s Brian Finneran was named most valuable player of the San Dieguito boys’ basketball tournament, but the award could have easily gone to his twin brother, Brad. The two were equally responsible for the 10th-ranked Eagles’ 83-59 romp over San Marcos Tuesday night in the San Dieguito High School tournament final.

Brian Finneran had 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and seven steals. Brad Finneran wasn’t bad either, getting 16 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and one steal.

Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk said the 6-foot-5 seniors continue to amaze him.

“You could do a study on identical twins, but you couldn’t find a better example of twins reading each other, knowing each other and respecting each other,” DeBusk said.

At times, the Finnerans seemed to find each on the court without even looking.

“I think they’re in a different scheme of things sometimes,” DeBusk said.

But as amazing as the Finnerans were, it was Santa Margarita’s depth that turned a close game into a blowout during a three-minute span of the fourth quarter. The Eagles (6-2) led, 41-31, at halftime, and 56-49 after three quarters.

With Brian Finneran on the bench, junior Brenden Mulligan scored the first four points of the fourth quarter on a reverse layup and two free throws to put the Eagles ahead, 60-49.

From there, Santa Margarita went on a 14-3 run in which five players scored. With three minutes left, the lead was suddenly 74-54.

“We ran out of gas,” San Marcos Coach Billy Singh said. “They’re just too much. They’re relentless.”

Mulligan finished with 16 points and Brian Scoggin came off the bench to add 12 points, including two three-pointers.

The Eagles held San Marcos’ Brian Baum to 21 points. Baum, the all-time leading scorer at San Marcos (7-2), had been averaging 30 points in the tournament.

Afterward, Singh was not talking about his team but the Finnerans. “I told them they could move down here if they wanted to,” he said. “Maybe they have some more brothers like them.”