Campbell Hall’s Big Guys Hang On in Overtime : Division V boys: With only one starter taller than 6 feet, Vincent Memorial forces Vikings to scramble for 68-61 victory.

When the Campbell Hall High basketball team walked out for the opening tip-off Tuesday night, it looked like 6-foot-10 Viking center Alex Lopez would have an easy time.

Not a single starter on Calexico Vincent Memorial stood over 6-foot-2.

And when Lopez scored six points in the opening minutes of the Division V Southern California regional first round, the Vikings were primed for a blowout.

But late in the first quarter, Vincent Memorial center Paulo Wanchope began to score and wouldn’t stop.

What looked to be a blowout changed thanks to Wanchope, who scored 43 points to single-handedly keep the Scots in the game until Campbell Hall was finally able to pull away with a 68-61 overtime win.

After the game, events such as guard Damon Glymph returning after a seven-game injury absence hitting the winning basket in overtime was dwarfed by Wanchope, an exchange student from Costa Rica spending his second year in the United States and only his fourth year playing basketball.

Wanchope wasn’t intimidated by the presence of Lopez, whose 17 points and five blocks kept Campbell Hall in the game for three quarters.

“I had never heard of him,” Wanchope said through an interpreter. “I just played a very good game.”

Wanchope, a senior, has not selected a college yet, but is being recruited by the likes of Cincinnati and Michigan State.

Campbell Hall players came away bewildered by Wanchope. Viking Coach Jon Palarz used a variety of players to guard Wanchope, who was too big for guard Harold Sylvester and too quick for Lopez.

“We saw they had only one 6-foot guy and figured we would have them pretty easily,” Campbell Hall forward Simeon Woodall said. “(Wanchope) was just awesome.”

Behind Wanchope, who also had 13 rebounds and seven steals, the Scots (18-11) took the lead early in the second quarter after Lopez picked up his second foul.

Woodall scored eight of his team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to give the Vikings a 56-53 lead with 1:42 left in regulation.

But a Melvin Rios free throw and two free throws by Wanchope pushed the game into overtime.

Harold Sylvester opened overtime with a three-pointer.

The Scots rallied to tie the score, setting the stage for Glymph.

Taking his first shot of the game, Glymph buried a three-pointer with 1:45 to play, giving Campbell Hall (24-8) a 62-59 lead.

“It was all confidence,” Glymph said. “I hesitated for about a half-second then I saw they weren’t coming out so I had to take it.”

* MORE PLAYOFFS: The Buena and Village Christian girls advance, but Santa Ana Mater Dei overcomes Crescenta Valley. C7