BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Downs Puts on Show; Servite Rolls

It has been a bit of a struggle for Servite since center Mark Seaton was injured last month, but as long as the Friars have David Downs they can cause problems for opponents.

Downs, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, gave Trabuco Hills a difficult time, scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in leading Servite to a 92-77 victory over the Mustangs at Servite.

“David has always had the ability,” said Friar Coach Scott Hamilton of his three-year varsity starter. “Tonight was a great game, but David can play. And now, with Mark out, he will have more of a chance to shine.”

Downs (11 of 22) led a barrage of outside shooting against the Mustangs (9-7), making five of his team’s 10 three-pointers. His impact was immediate and relentless; Downs scored Servite’s first 10 points of the game, 15 in the first quarter when the Friars took a 24-16 lead, and seemed to make every key basket to blunt several runs by Trabuco Hills.

Downs’ greatest spark came near the end of the second quarter; Trabuco Hills had taken its only lead of the night, 33-32, with 3:16 to play, when Downs scored four quick points, triggering a 19-4 run en route to a 51-37 halftime spread.

Downs didn’t have to carry the entire load. Guard Sean Rawson added 20 points, and made four three-pointers himself. In fact, the Friars, who shot 50% for the game (31 of 62), blistered the Mustangs from the field, sinking eight three-pointers in the first half.

Trabuco Hills forward Jon Paisley tried to keep his team in the game, scoring 27 points, pumping in four three-pointers along the way. But the Mustangs, who love to run and were all but encouraging Servite (9-4) to fire away from the outside, were staggered by the Friars’ rapid pace.

“They came out flying,” Trabuco Hills Coach Rainer Wulf said. “We wanted them to shoot from the outside tonight and they made us pay for it. We didn’t think they could continue to play at the pace they started with.”

The Friars are 4-2 since Seaton broke a bone where his left foot and ankle meet, Dec. 17 in the Nogales game. He underwent surgery and is not expected back until the playoffs.