No. 2 San Clemente Knocks Off El Toro

First, San Clemente knocked off Orange County’s top-ranked team. Then, on Tuesday, the Tritons knocked off the team with the county’s leading scorer.

Second-ranked San Clemente, which might have suffered an emotional letdown after its victory over Brea Olinda on Saturday, instead built on its momentum with a 58-54 victory over eighth-ranked El Toro, despite the best efforts of Giuliana Mendiola.

“We knew we could beat anyone after we beat Brea,” said San Clemente’s Whitney Jones, who led the Tritons with 19 points, nine rebounds and seven steals.

Through three quarters, Jones and teammates held off Mendiola, who scored 33 points, 16 in the fourth quarter. The Tritons built an 18-point lead, 45-27, with 4 minutes 20 seconds left in the third quarter before Mendiola scored 19 of El Toro’s final 27 points, including the final 16.

With 1:32 left and the comeback almost complete, Mendiola missed a chance to pull the Chargers even with a free throw that would have completed a three-point play. The Tritons clung to a 55-54 margin.

San Clemente improved to 14-2, 2-0 in league. El Toro (9-5, 1-1), which was in the Sea View League last season, lost for the first time in 23 league games, a streak that spanned four seasons and two league titles.

Mendiola made seven of her final eight shots, and also had 15 rebounds. Her final free throw came with seven seconds left and trailing, 57-54. A 79.7% free-throw shooter, Mendiola missed the front end of a one-and-one.

San Clemente held the three-point lead because Kimberly Noble, who scored 17, put back a rebound of Kristin Jenkins’ miss with 13 seconds left. But it was the shot before Jenkins’ that was critical, as officials let play continue though Cassie Kruger apparently missed the rim as the shot clock expired.

Even Noble said the ball missed the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Kruger, who had 10 assists, added a free throw for the final margin.

Free throws played a pivotal role in the outcome. San Clemente had a healthy advantage, making 14 of 24; El Toro made four of six.

In another South Coast League game:

Capistrano Valley 60, Mission Viejo 38--Nicki Howard scored 19 points and Lindsey Peloza added 18 for visiting Capistrano Valley (11-5, 1-1).