rio hondo 124

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Rio Hondo League Games:
Moore Is Less--(January 25, 1998)

Here are the results from Friday's games in the Rio Hondo League. Again, short but sweet.

Temple City 69, La Canada 50

Matt Moore scored 41 points, but the sixth-ranked Spartans, who are now 17-5 overall and 4-1 in league play, still lost at Temple City.

Can you say "Ruben Douglas"?

Five players against one even if that player was 6-foot-7 center Matt Moore didn't bode well for the La Canada team in Friday night's Rio Hondo League game. Despite a season high 41 points from Moore, the Spartans could not overcome a team effort from Temple City High in a 69-50 loss. The Spartans ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A poll dropped into a three-way, first-place tie in league with the Rams and South Pasadena High at 4-1. Give credit to Temple City because they hit their shots and got good open looks at the basket. Temple City is 17-5 overall. Moore finished with 11 rebounds, three blocks, and was 20-for-25 shooting from the field. But the other Spartans contributed only nine points and made just one of 20 shots from 3-point line.

Again, can anyone say "Bell-Jeff"?

It also didn't help that starting point guard Tim Chung rolled his right ankle in the first quarter, and barely played the rest of the game. Chung's absence allowed the Rams to press early and often. Temple City got to a 17-14 lead in the first quarter behind eight points from Eddie Copeland, who led the Rams (12-8) with 26 points. But as good as Copeland was, his teammates were not far behind as the Rams nailed 11 of 24 3-pointers, five from guard Josh Johnson, who had 17 points.

Led by Moore, the Spartans fought back in the third quarter, trailing 34-27. But the Rams defense pressure La Ca–ada's outside shooters, and Moore scored all 16 of the Spartans' points in the third by working his way inside. Trailing, 53-39, heading into the fourth quarter after Copeland hit a 3-pointer before the third quarter buzzer, the Spartans cut the lead to 10 twice but could not get any closer. Moore scored nine points in the fourth quarter and left the floor with one minute left, and got an applause from the Temple City crowd.

The two teams will face each other one more time Feb. 12 at 5:30 pm. at La Canada, in a game which very well might determine the Rio Hondo League championship.

In other Rio Hondo League action, here are the scores from Friday:

San Marino 59, South Pasadena 54

With the win, San Marino improved to 1-4 in league play and 8-11 overall; South Pasadena is now 9-9 overall and 1-4 also in league. Ten three-point shots were made in the game, and Sam Kim of South Pasadena had 19 points while Justin Becker let San Marino with 13; also with 13 points wass Chris Arms.

Monrovia 69, Blair 62

Mike Edwards had 13 points for Blair, Reggie Hooks had 14 and Kenny Edwards had 12 points. Monrovia was led by Sean Fredericks with 18, while Mike Canizales had 15 and Josh Clark had 16 points.