century final

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Century Tournament: Century
Wins Final--(December 31, 1997)

It looks like the shot clock in boys' CIF basketball is having the opposite effect to that intended. Rather than increasing the scoring opportunities and making the game more exciting, it seems that some game scores are getting lower and lower. In a game which was marked by some low scoring and tenacious defense, Century High managed to squeak out a win over Calvary Chapel for the Century Holiday Classic Championship Tuesday night, by the incredibly low score of 38-37.

Century had advanced to the finals by beating Villa Park in Monday's semifinals 60-57, as Mike Zepeda (6'-9" Jr. C), scored 20 points, and Hardy Fatu (5'-11" Jr. G), hit for 16 points, shooting 8 for 10 from the line in the fourth quarter. Century was 10-3 going into the finals and improved to 11-3 with the tourney win.

Calvary Chapel was 11-4 going into the finals, after deveating No. 9 ranked Los Alamitos in the other semifinal game on Monday by a score of 58-50, in which Joe Ortiz scored 21 points.

The final was actually pretty exciting at the end; the only problem was enduring the low shooting in the interim. The game came down to the final second, as Mike Zepeda grabbed Hardy Fatu's airball and laid it in as the clock expired, giving Century the 38-37 win. Joe Ortiz (6'-2" Sr. G) had just given Calvary Chapel, a one point lead with a tip-in with eight seconds remaining. Terrail Zoller (6'-2" Sr. F), had 15 points and nine rebounds and Zepeda had eight points and 13 rebounds for the Centurions, who improved to 11-3 on the year.

Congratulations to Century High, the 1997 Century High Tournament Champions.

In the Third Place Game:

No. 10 Los Alamitos 72, Villa Park 50--Matt Komer (6'-7" Sr. F) had a game-high 20 points and Ryan Ellis (6'-5" Sr. F) added 17 as the Griffins won the third-place game. Alan Verzani (6'-9" Sr. F) led Villa Park with 18 points.

In the Fifth Place Game:

San Clemente beat Laguna Beach 62-48 as Samaj Johnson and Mitch Pierce combined to score 32 points as the Tritons cruised to victory. Joe Tatala, who was selected to the all-tournament team, added 12 points for the Tritons.

In the Consolation Final:

Sunny Hills deafeated Mission Viejo 62-57 to take the consolation crown. Bim Okunrinboye scored nine of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, and had 8 assists, while Grady Funk had 10 rebounds as Sunny Hills, who are now 8-7 on the season outscored Mission Viejo. Jerry Bolton had 22 points and Jake Fitch scored 20 to lead the Diablos, who are now 7-8 on the year.

Congratulations to all of the participants in this great event from SoCalHoops. And Happy New Year.