Calvary Chapel Beats Bishop’s

Although La Jolla The Bishop’s caught Calvary Chapel flat-footed early, the Eagles took advantage of the short-handed Knights and rallied to win their first state basketball playoff game.

Eagle point guard Kevin Falconer had 19 points and six assists and Garid Beeler came off the bench to score 15 points to help Calvary Chapel defeat The Bishop’s, 65-52, Tuesday in the first round of the Southern California Regional Division IV boys’ basketball playoffs at Del Mar Torrey Pines High.

Calvary Chapel (26-5) advanced to play Bakersfield Garces in the second round Thursday. The regional final is Saturday at Cal State Fullerton. The Bishop’s finished 20-8.

The Bishop’s, the San Diego Section champion, began the game pounding Calvary Chapel inside. Although David Burns (19 points) did some damage outside, making five three-pointers, the Knights had eight offensive rebounds in the first quarter and took a 22-20 lead.

But The Bishop’s leading scorer and rebounder, 6-foot-4 senior forward Rob Swenson (six points), left the game in the first quarter after suffering a severe cut on his lip.

Swenson needed stitches to close the gash and returned from Scripps Memorial Hospital midway through the fourth quarter, The Bishop’s Coach Fentriss Winn said. But by then, Calvary Chapel had built its lead to 14 points and seized control of the game.

“That really hurt them when their big forward went out,” Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer said. “They weren’t at full strength, but we’ll take it.”

After The Bishop’s controlled the first quarter, Calvary Chapel used its half-court trap defense to help turn things around in the second quarter.

Calvary Chapel’s David Williams began a 9-0 run with a two-handed dunk, then Beeler scored seven consecutive points in a one minute, five second span to give Calvary Chapel the lead, 29-22, with 3:45 remaining in the period.

After The Bishop’s tied it, 30-30, one minute into the third quarter, Calvary Chapel’s Robert Cutler scored two baskets to start a 9-1 run to give the Eagles control for good.

Falconer’s ball-handling and free-throw shooting (10 of 11) helped Calvary Chapel ice the game in the fourth quarter.