SOUTH COAST LEAGUE GIRLS’ ROUNDUP : Time Is On San Clemente’s Side in Beating Cougars

Capistrano Valley’s first-half confusion reappeared at the most inopportune time Thursday night.

In a pivotal South Coast League girls’ basketball game against San Clemente at Capistrano Valley, the Cougars tried to take a last-second shot, but time was on the Tritons’ side.

Final score: San Clemente 55, Capistrano Valley 54.

To set up the victory, San Clemente ace Michelle Macintyre had scored with less than a minute to play for the one-point edge. Capistrano Valley’s Susan Scott, who made nine of her first 13 free-throw attempts before missing three in a row, was fouled and stepped to the line for two shots.

She missed both. San Clemente subsequently gained possession on a jump ball situation, and after letting the clock run down, the Cougars fouled Alicia Waldner, who missed the front end of the one-and-one.

With eight seconds left, Capistrano Valley’s Jennifer Garrett rebounded the missed shot, hurriedly brought the ball up court, but was double-teamed. By the time she broke free, the buzzer sounded.

“I think she thought she had more time,” said Scott, who led all scorers with 29 points.

Scott said it was an uncharacteristic game for the Cougars. “We were confused, we were nervous,” she said.

San Clemente was not. The Tritons (12-4, 2-1) hadn’t defeated Capistrano Valley (8-5, 2-1) in nine attempts over the previous two seasons and agreed it was high time to turn the tables.

“Nine times in a row, we really wanted to change that. We wanted it so bad and we knew we could do it,” said Macintyre, who led the Tritons with 25 points.

Capistrano Valley led early in the game, but San Clemente outscored the Cougars, 20-14, in the second quarter to take a 27-24 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, the Tritons took a six-point lead three times, but the Cougars came back and even pulled ahead, 54-53, on a layup by Scott with 1:01 left.

San Clemente employed a full-court press that dogged the Cougars throughout the game.

“Our defense played real well,” Macintyre said. “Everyone seemed to step it up.”

For San Clemente, Kate Turnbull had 17 points. Teammate Jenny Geminert, who sat out much of the second half in foul trouble, added seven.

In other league games:

Dana Hills 59, Mission Viejo 41--Karun Grossman scored 34 points, including 19 of the team’s 22 first-half points, to lead Dana Hills (12-4, 2-1). Courtney Okura scored 12 points for Mission Viejo (0-3 in league).

Mater Dei 86, El Toro 32--Adrienne Botana scored 16 points to lead five Mater Dei players in double figures. Mater Dei is 13-2, 3-0; Host El Toro is 5-9, 0-3.