ALISO VIEJO, Ca. – The Capistrano Valley High Cougars improved to 3-0 Monday night in a “South Orange County tilt” played host to by the Aliso Niguel Warriors.
The Cougars took a 10-0 advantage and were never seriously threatened, though they got a tad sloppy in stretches of the second half, to prevail, 74-62.
Six-foot-three twins Gavin and Aidan O’Neill – transfers from Saddleback Valley Christian, which closed last spring – combined for 38 points for Coach Brian Mulligan’s team, with Gavin scoring 15 of his team-high 21 in the second half.
Six-four Langston Redfield – a 4.0-plus student and the best point guard in Orange County – was tagged with his second and third personal fouls late in the third quarter and then picked up his fourth just 11 seconds into the final quarter.
Despite being “situationally substituted for” the rest of the way by Mulligan, Redfield (pictured) finished with 14 points to go with six rebounds and 10 assists.
That last of 10 came his pass to Gavin O’Neill 3 that pushed his team’s lead to 12 points with a bit more than two minutes to go.
Coach Keith Barnett’s team (3-3), which never capitulated despite trailing by 17 points after three quarters, hung in via the scoring of juniors Tyler Weaver (26 points), Brandon Novida (13) and Chase McDaniel (nine on three 3s).
The 6-6 Weaver, who came into the contest averaging 24.5 points per game, hit nine of 22 shots from the field (including three 3s), while five of seven on free throws to go with four rebounds and three assists.
The Cougars have home games on Wednesday night at 7 (Dana Hills) and Saturday afternoon at 2 (Fairmont Prep).
Fairmont Prep, which has an exceptional 6-6 junior in Chol Deng, knocked Capistrano Valley out – 42-40 – in the second round of the CIF Southern Section 2AA playoffs last season.
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