Katella Rides Streak Shooter Abercrombie to Victory Over Villa Park

Katella Coach Tom Danley has said all season that streaky swingman Robert Abercrombie can shoot the Knights in or out of a basketball game.

Friday night, Abercrombie did both.

He missed his first seven shots and Katella fell behind visiting Villa Park by four at the end of the first quarter.

Then Abercrombie made eight of his next nine shots and the Knights were on their way to a 71-58 victory in the first round of the Southern Section Division II-AA boys’ basketball playoffs.

Abercrombie finished with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds. Matt Tisthammer chipped in 15 points and tough defense on Alex Will, the county’s leading three-point shooter. Center Don Carey, also a defensive standout, had 10 points.

Katella (23-4) advanced to play second-seeded Santa Margarita (25-2), a 68-47 victor over Moreno Valley Rancho Verde.

“I know I’ve got that reputation about my shots,” Abercrombie said. “I just keep it up and if I miss a lot of shots I try to block it out and concentrate on my defense because that usually helps me get going.”

Abercrombie picked up his third foul 1 minute 10 seconds into the second quarter. Then he went on a scoring streak.

He tied the score, 12-12, on back to back jumpers. After Brandon Jordan made two free throws, Abercrombie scored two more baskets to cap a 10-0 run.

Villa Park never recovered. The Knights slowly pulled away and when Abercrombie made a fall-away jumper and free throw late in the third quarter, Katella led, 54-40.

Katella also played good defense, with Tisthammer limiting Will, a 52.2% three-point shooter, to two of nine three-point shots. The Knights also used the double-team of Jordan and Carey against Villa Park center Alan Verzani.

Verzani, who averaged 19.3 points in leading Villa Park to its third consecutive Century League title, rarely touched the ball in the first half and finished with 14 points, most of them in the final quarter. Will scored 13 points and Chris Hillman and Andy Olsen each had 11.

“They were better defensively than we thought they were,” Villa Park Coach Kevin Reynolds said. “We weren’t prepared for it. They did a great job.

“But I thought we played good defense, too. Give them credit. A lot of those shots Abercrombie made we had a hand in his face. You can’t ask more than that.”