SAUGUS TOURNAMENT : Highland’s Win Sounds Like a Loss

It was a heck of a comeback, no matter what you hear from Highland High co-Coach Tim Knight.

“We were outplayed and out-coached and we deserve no credit for coming back,” Knight said after Highland’s 95-89 overtime defeat of Saugus on Thursday night in the Saugus tournament. “I was very angry with our bench. We wanted to play 12 guys and we couldn’t do that. I’m not happy at all.”

This after Knight’s Bulldogs rallied from an 18-point deficit early in the second half to pull out the victory.

Highland forward John Burrell carried the bulk of his team’s scoring load, pouring in a tournament-record 44 points, making 16 of 29 free throws.

A 6-foot-3, 180 pound senior, Burrell set the Highland scoring record Monday with 46 points in an overtime loss to Muir.

“Burrell is coming along,” Knight admitted. “He’s not our leader yet, those guys are Sean Scott and Brian Ward, but he’s getting there.”

Scott, a senior forward, scored seven points and Ward, a junior guard, had eight.

After trailing, 13-12, in the first quarter, Saugus (1-1) roared away from the Bulldogs, building a 45-33 halftime lead and extending its advantage to 55-37 midway through the third quarter.

Junior guard Major Sherard had a hot hand, scoring 18 points in three quarters and finishing with 32.

But late in the third quarter, Highland (1-1) switched from a zone defense to a man-to-man and the game began to slip away from Saugus. The Centurions entered the final quarter leading, 59-53.

“I’m proud of the way we played, but in the second half our inexperience showed,” Saugus Coach Jeff Hallman said.

“I hope we learned that you can’t play not to lose. Our guys were afraid to make mistakes and that created mistakes.”

Saugus’ advantage continued to shrink as time wound down. Burrell scored 10 of his points in the final quarter and had seven in overtime.

The teams ended regulation at 72-72 and played the overtime at a frantic pace.

Highland’s quickness won out, however, as a frustrated Saugus team had starters Davitt Conley, Tim Faulconer and Todd Krogh, and reserve Kyle Jolly foul out in the final six minutes.

Victor Valley 81, Oxnard 43--The Yellowjackets fell behind, 45-19, at halftime and were overwhelmed by the fast-paced attack of the Jackrabbits (2-0).

Ross Randolph scored 11 points for Oxnard (0-1).

Dashmond Sylvester scored 18 points for Victor Valley, and Scott Mansfield added 13.

Antelope Valley 49, Glendale 48--Marc Buckner’s short-range shot with 30 seconds to play led the Antelopes over the Dynamiters (1-1) in a quarterfinal game.

Le’tre Kelly had 16 points for the Antelopes (3-0).

Guard Steve Avetyan scored 24 points and Arman Apikov added 12 for Glendale.

Quartz Hill 48, San Fernando 44--Jerimiah Brooks scored 13 points, Brad Hazard had 12 and Chester Stewart added 11 as the Rebels (1-1) defeated the Tigers in a consolation bracket game.

Marty Trinidad scored 17 points for San Fernando (0-2).

La Canada 66, Sylmar 32--Danny Bush scored 20 points and Todd Crane added 16 for La Canada (1-1) in a consolation bracket game.

Daron Wilson scored seven points and Robert Valentine added six for Sylmar (0-2).