Clutch free throws help Agassi Prep boys hold on

Agassi Prep’s boys basketball team has encountered its share of problems at the free-throw line this season.

So when the Stars stepped to the line Saturday with their lead slipping away, second-year coach Wendell West wasn’t exactly confident.

His squad, however, played it cool.

Agassi Prep shot 8-for-8 from the line in the final minute to edge host Mountain View 60-52 in a Division III Southern League game.

“That’s big for us,” said West, whose team had lost four in a row. “Free throws cost us a couple games this year. It cost us a really big game last year. For us to make those, it gives us a different side of confidence. Instead of not wanting the ball, certain guys want it now.”

The Saints (9-14, 3-7), who suffered their sixth straight defeat, dug a deep first-half hole, shooting 5 of 19 from the field and turning the ball over 11 times.

Trailing by 14 at the half, Mountain View found success attacking the basket late in the third quarter with a 10-4 spurt that cut its deficit to 39-31.

Both teams were marred by turnovers, but the Saints overcame poor passing to pull within 52-46 with 1:23 remaining.

The Stars (8-13, 5-5) converted only three baskets in the fourth quarter but were perfect at the foul line in the final minute.

“That was too close,” West said. “With this group, the youth is one of our biggest issues. It’s a plus and a minus for us. The plus is we get tons of energy out of them. The minus is we find ways to lose.”

Agassi Prep benefited from solid shooting in the second quarter. Steven Jones propelled a 10-2 run with back-to-back 3-pointers, and the Stars shot 4 of 7 from long range in the period.

“When we’re patient on offense, we get good shots,” West said. “When we come down and complete one pass and fire up a shot, it’s usually not the best offense we have.”

Wa’t Manor helped Agassi Prep to a 21-8 edge in rebounds in the first half. The junior center controlled the glass with 10 boards.

Jordan Smith had a team-high 14 points for the Stars, and Kobe Williams scored 10.

T.J. Kissinger paced Mountain View with 15 points and five rebounds, and Adonis Morris scored 10. The Saints shot 40.9 percent (18-for-44) from the field.