SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. – Approximately 48 hours after stumbling its way to only 42 points, the JSerra High boys’ basketball team was much more efficient – and productive – in its second Trinity League contest Friday night.
The host Lions, whose half-court and transition offense production was ground to a near-halt by the Santa Margarita Eagles Wednesday, fell behind by 10 points early in the second quarter but tied the score at intermission before pulling away down the stretch for a 63-52 victory over the St. John Bosco Braves.
Sophomore guard Aidan Fowler (held to seven points – none in the fourth quarter – in the Lions’ nine-point loss Wednesday night) hit three consecutive 3s in the second quarter Friday to get his team’s offense untracked while finishing with a game-high 21 point.
“They (Santa Margarita) just grind you out, at both ends of the courts, for almost the entire (35-second) shot clock,” JSerra Coach Keith Wilkinson said Friday night, alluding to his team’s Wednesday opponent, after his team improved its overall record to 9-4.
The theme of Thursday’s practice was “being more aggressive (against the Braves) – push the ball and ‘attack’ on offense,” he added.
A 6-zip start by the visitors (who fell to 12-6 overall, in their Trinity opener) sparked a timeout by Wilkinson, who re-emphasized the lessons of Thursday.
But they really didn’t kick in Fowler (pictured) got into the same kind of rhythm, offensively, he was in prior to the COVID-related halt to the team’s on-court activities just prior before it was to head to San Diego for the Dec. 27 Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.
His 11 second-quarter points created an intermission deadlock at 35.
And, after a Braves’ missed shot to start the second half, junior guard EJ Bryson converted a bucket and the Lions’ never trailed again.
The visitors’ leading scorers on the season – senior post Christian Estrada and freshman guard Elzie Harrington – missed a combined 19 of 25 shots from the field and played with four fouls apiece in the fourth quarter.
The Lions took advantage of the Braves’ foul issues over the final eight minutes while knocking in eight of 11 free throws.
Senior guard Robert Diaz, who scored a team-high 14 points Wednesday, scored half of his 16 points in the fourth quarter Friday night.
Wilkinson’s squad has a non-league game home game set against Rancho Christian Saturday night (7) before getting back into Trinity action next week against Servite (Wednesday in Anaheim) and Orange Lutheran (Friday at home).
The Braves, whose Wednesday Trinity opener vs. Mater Dei at home was postponed because of COVID issues within the SJB program (it has yet to be rescheduled), are scheduled for road league games vs. Orange Lutheran (Wednesday) and Santa Margarita (Friday) next week.
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