SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. – It was “opening night” for the Trinity League boys’ basketball season.
And on a Wednesday night when the two other “openers” were postponed because of COVID protocol issues, it was a couple of teams that hadn’t played since Dec. 21 and ’22 because of their own COVID “status” that tipped things off at JSerra High.
The host Lions and visiting Santa Margarita Eagles had only resumed “in-gymnasium” practice on Monday and the lack of little in the way of on-court time – relative to “sharpness” and “execution” – was apparent, for both teams, at times.
But, especially over the final quarter, it was Coach Justin Bell’s team that appeared in “mid-season” form, as the Eagles improved to 12-0 with their 51-42 victory in front of several hundred spectators.
Bell’s frontcourt of seniors Jake Heberle and Kyle Evans, and junior Rockwell Reynolds, combined for 16 of their team’s 18 points while Heberle and Evans snatched nine rebounds between them over those same eight minutes.
Heberle (16), Reynolds (15 and seven rebounds) and Evans (eight and 11 rebounds) combined for 39 points while sophomore guards Ethan Rhee, Cameron Mercadel and Cameron McNamee accounted for the other 12.
Both teams were scheduled to participate in the Dec. 27-30 Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in San Diego County before withdrawing before playing a game there.
The Lions (8-4), who hadn’t played since losing to Baton Rouge Liberty Magnet on Dec. 21 in the first day of the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, never got anything approaching to offensive continuity against the Eagles’ transition and half-court defenses.
Senior guard Robert Diaz led Coach Keith Wilkinson’s team with 14 points.
Bell usually has as calm of “pre-, in- and post-game demeanors” as anyone that I know of in the high school coaching world.
Wednesday night, after his team had closed out the win against the toughest opponent it has faced this season, he was in the same mode.
“We’re not in a unique situation,” Bell (pictured) said minutes after his program – which captured a Southern Regional crown last June – had extended its two-season winning streak to 15 with its 19th win in 20 games.
“A lot of teams are dealing with this (COVID issues). We weren’t able to get together (on the floor) until Monday but we did have some ‘virtual’ meetings with the guys (in the past two weeks).
“We’re blessed to have a bunch of guys who only think about the ‘team’ and not about who gets the most shots or points. We had to play very well tonight to beat a very tough and well-coached team.”
As of when this was posted, Trinity games scheduled for Friday night have Mater Dei at Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco at JSerra.
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