Chaminade Hits Long-Range Plan to Defeat Grant

There’s no better feeling than executing a game plan.

For weeks, Chaminade High has been working on making three-point shots. Ryan Arceo even showed up to school at 7:30 a.m. to practice his long-range accuracy.

“We’ve emphasized it, but we haven’t hit them,” said Coach Jeff Young of Chaminade.

Don’t tell that to Coach Howard Levine of Grant. He watched helplessly as Chaminade converted eight of 14 attempts from three-point range Monday night en route to a 69-59 victory over the Lancers in an opening game of the Chaminade tournament.

“They shot lights out,” Levine said. “They just did not miss.”

Grant (8-2) was in the game after one quarter, trailing 14-11. The Lancers never got any closer.

Tito Hill started the second quarter with consecutive three-pointers for the Eagles. Arceo followed with consecutive three-pointers, completing a 12-0 run.

The Lancers were beaten.

Holding a 34-20 halftime lead, Chaminade (5-4) turned to 6-foot-9 Scott Borchart in the third quarter when Grant abandoned its zone defense. Borchart responded by scoring 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half.

Arceo finished with 17 points, making four three-pointers. Hill had 13 points, including three three-pointers. Overall, the Eagles made 23 of 39 shots.

Chaminade stayed in its 2-3 zone defense the entire game.

Ryan Logan, Grant’s best outside shooter, was scoreless until the fourth quarter. His 12 points in the final eight minutes had little impact.

Clearly, Hill and Arceo sinking shots from long range is crucial to Chaminade’s success.

“I think they are a key,” Young said. “If they can hit shots, hopefully it opens up the interior for Scott. We’re not just a half-court, pound it inside to the big guy kind of team.”

Chaminade will face Canyon at 8 p.m. tonight in a quarterfinal game.