SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL FINALS : DIVISION V BOYS : Shot Drops for Stark, Mounties

Scott Stark and his Montclair Prep teammates wore looks of uncertainty Saturday as he attempted the shot that decided the fate of the Mounties.

So did the ball.

The junior guard cast a 15-foot jumper that bounced off the rim twice before finally falling through the net with seven seconds to play.

The shot gave Montclair Prep (27-5) a 59-58 victory over San Diego Horizon Christian at Cal State Fullerton and a trip to the State final for the first time.

Before the winning shot, Montclair Prep coaches considered replacing Stark, who hadn’t scored since the opening minute, had committed four fouls and had made one of six attempts from the field.

“He had kind of faded away,” Montclair Prep Coach Howard Abrams said. “He seemed a little bit confused but we realized we needed him on the court.”

The Mounties trailed, 58-57, with 51 seconds left. Stark and guards Reed Berglund and Akil Anderson passed the ball to one another, ignoring several shot opportunities in a futile effort to get the ball inside to forward Anwan Jones. With time running out, Stark figured he had to take his chance.

“I hesitated for just a second before I let it go,” Stark said. “It was a shot I’ve been making the entire year and I’d passed it up already. The only time I felt the pressure was just as I shot it.”

The Panthers had a chance to win, but after furiously dribbling upcourt, forward Ray Harrington could only attempt a wild 30-footer.

Horizon Christian (23-3) shot its way back into the game in the second half, rebounding from a 31-23 halftime deficit. Harrington, who finished with 15 points, sank three three-point baskets, including two in the fourth quarter.

Harrington’s last three-pointer gave Horizon Christian a 52-51 lead with 3:24 left to help overcome an earlier four-point deficit.

But the inside-outside tandem of Jones (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Berglund kept the Mounties alive.

Berglund struggled from the field, making five of 16 shots, but he nailed a three-pointer immediately after Harrington’s as the Mounties retook the lead. Berglund finished with 15 points and five assists.

The teams traded the lead until a 10-footer by Jeremy Lewis gave the Panthers a 58-56 advantage.

Anderson had a chance to tie with 1:18 left but made only one of two free throws. Horizon Christian guard Mike Haywood, guarded by Berglund, was called for a five-second violation, setting up Montclair’s final possession.

Montclair Prep was consistently able to break Horizon Christian’s full-court press, but still committed 18 turnovers, all in the first three quarters.

Horizon Christian showed some of its inexperience--the Panthers began their basketball program in 1993--by committing six first-quarter turnovers of their own. Berglund had eight points in the first quarter as the Mounties took a 15-11 lead.

By the end of the first half, however, Montclair Prep had committed 13 turnovers.

Horizon Christian built on its momentum to open the second half, scoring the first nine points to take a 32-31 lead. Neither team would lead by more than four points the rest of the game.