FOOTHILL CLASSIC: Foothill boys use depth to down Gators

Foothill is generally one of the deeper boys basketball teams in the area.

This season is certainly no exception.

The Falcons had their third different player lead the team in scoring in three games at the Foothill Holiday Classic, as they topped visiting Green Valley 76-42 to move into Friday’s championship game.
Austin Starr led the way with 20 points.

“People tend to forget that basketball is a team sport,” Foothill coach Kevin Soares said. “You can’t just rely on two guys. We just try and build the confidence up of the rest of the guys on the team, and when their number’s called, they’re ready to play.”

Starr was 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, all in the first half, to help the Falcons take a 35-19 halftime advantage.

“We’ve been working on his consistency,” Soares said. “Everybody labels him a shooter, and I tell him 'when you’re open, you’ve got to knock those down.’ Fortunately for us this tournament, he has been.”

Matt Rapp led the team with 18 points in an 83-60 win over Centennial in the tournament opener, and Chris Echols had a team-high 25 points in a 92-83 victory over Valley.

And the team has done it all without senior guard Brannon Cresanto, who averaged 14.4 points last season. Cresanto hasn’t dressed in the tournament because of an injury.

“This summer, we learned a lot about our team,” Soares said. “There were a couple tournaments where we didn’t have Brannon or Elijah (Smith), and we were right in there playing for the championship in both tournaments. We’ve got more than just those two guys.”

Rapp continued to play a key role off the bench in Cresanto’s absence, hitting three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points for the Falcons.

“Matt Rapp can score,” Soares said. “He’s one of our better shooters, if not the best shooter we have on the team. If you take a look at him, he doesn’t look like can play an ounce of basketball. But people sleep on him, and when he’s open, he knocks shots down.”

Smith added 11 points, and Jalen Shepard scored 10 for Foothill, which plays Army-Navy (Calif.) in the title game at 7:40 p.m. on Friday. The Falcons have won nine straight games.

“It’s good for the confidence of our kids,” Soares said. “We’re playing really well right now, and to continue the streak we’ve got going is just going to build our confidence even more.”

Ikaika Pladera, Clyde Austin and Tyler Roberts each had seven points for Green Valley, which was 16-for-57 (28.1 percent) from the field. Tyrell Crosby had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Gators.

Arbor View 79, Centennial 78 — Justin Burks had 20 points and six rebounds as the Aggies edged the Bulldogs in the consolation bracket.

Navonte Hill added 14 points and four assists, and Terrell Butler had 13 points, four rebounds and three assists for Arbor View, which got 11 points from Charles Porter.

Centennial’s Marcus Allen led all scorers with 30 points, and Malcolm Allen added 27 points for the Bulldogs.

Desert Pines 60, Las Vegas 42 — Julian Jacobs had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as the Jaguars defeated the Wildcats in the consolation bracket.

Donavin Wright and Re’meake Keith each added 10 points for Desert Pines, which led 26-16 at the half.

Devon Colley led Las Vegas with nine points. The Wildcats were just 6-for-34 (17.6 percent) from the field in the first half, and 15-for-58 (25.9 percent) for the game.

Canyon Springs 83, Coronado 58 — Chris Swanson scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half to help the Pioneers top the Cougars in the consolation bracket.

Gerad Davis led four Canyon Springs players in double figures with 19 points. Tim Straghter added 13 points, and Darrell McCall scored 12.

Straghter added seven rebounds and two blocked shots, and Swanson had three assists and three steals.

The Pioneers forced 20 first-half turnovers, turning them into 21 points as they took a 45-26 lead at the break.

Jordan Willis led Coronado with 15 points and seven rebounds. Justice Augmon added 13 points, and Rasheed Westbrook had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars.

Basic 52, Palo Verde 41 — Antraye Johson had 16 rebounds and four assists to help the Wolves top the Panthers.

Sheldon Slayton added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Basic, which led 29-13 at the half.

Braxton Richards and Travis Gondrezick each scored nine points for Palo Verde.

Liberty 62, Shadow Ridge 61 — Jeremy Lontayao and Elijah Graves each had 16 points to help the Patriots edge the Mustangs.

Travis Newman added 14 points, and Graves had seven rebounds for Liberty, which trailed 29-23 at the half.

Terrell Bowden led Shadow Ridge with 18 points. Kealyn Butler added 15 points, and Serph Decker scored 13 for the Mustangs.

Redemption Christian (N.Y.) 77, Valley 59 — The Lions outscored the Vikings 46-20 in the second half to rally for the win in the consolation bracket.

Angel Delgado had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead Redemption, and teammate Kevin Madiamba had 21 points and seven boards.

Cameron Burton paced Valley with 18 points, and teammate Ryan Johnson scored 14. The Vikings were just 4-for-19 on 3-pointers, and 0-for-7 in the second half.

WHITE DIVISION

Chaparral 65, Del Sol 41 — Kamron Alexander had 22 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Cowboys over the Dragons.

Patrick Savoy added 11 points and five rebounds for Chaparral.

Kyle Collins led Del Sol with 12 points, and teammate Jonross Juhas scored 11.

Lincoln (Colo.) 56, Bonanza 40 — Andre Muniz hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points to lead the Lancers over the Bengals.

Gabriel Vasquez added 15 points and 12 rebounds for Lincoln.

Cameron Ladson paced Bonanza with 14 points and six rebounds.