HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Mt. Carmel Falls Just Short of Catching Poway in Final

Ha Ha. The Mt. Carmel Sundevils were only kidding.

After playing dead during the second and third quarters of the championship game of its own tournament, Mt. Carmel woke up in the fourth quarter.

But it was too late. Poway finished barely ahead, 62-61, to remain undefeated at 9-0.

Mt. Carmel slipped to 8-3.

Poway held an 11-point advantage after both the second and third quarters and was seemingly controlling the game.

Seemingly. Mt. Carmel quickly changed the complexion and at one point went on an 11-2 run. During that spurt, Mike Graves scored eight points.

But it was Graves who committed a big error to allow Poway to take its two-point lead to a four-point advantage.

With the score, 56-54, Graves went for a steal from guard Greg Sorrell. But Sorrell dribbled around Graves at midcourt and drove to the basket to make it, 58-54.

Sorrell finished with 21 points to lead both schools. He was later named the tournament’s most valuable player.

But even after Sorrell’s drive, Mt. Carmel kept its composure and had a chance to win late in the game.

Ryan Wootton scored two consecutive baskets underneath--the second coming after Mt. Carmel stole an inbounds pass. On his second basket, he was fouled from behind by Sorrell. Although he missed the free throw, teammate Tom Labuda came up with a long rebound behind the three-point arc and hit a shot from there to make it 62-61 with seven seconds left.

Sorrell, who had sunk four consecutive free throws earlier in the quarter to keep Mt. Carmel at an arm’s length, took the inbounds pass and was quickly fouled.

Guess what? He missed the ensuing free throw, and Mt. Carmel called its last timeout with three seconds remaining.

But Labuda’s long inbounds pass was stolen by Frank Garrett. And the buzzer sounded.

Mt. Carmel had to play without Shane Knight, who leads the team in every statistical category. Referee’s would not let him play with a heavy bandage on his arm.

In other boys’ basketball games:

Baron Optimist Tournament

Crawford 62, Morse 60--Tito Singleton made a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Crawford (10-4) in the championship of this 20th annual tournament at Bonita Vista. Trailing, 60-59, Singleton received an inbounds pass, dribbled down and let fly the winner from the right wing about 24 feet out. Marc Carter, who led all scorers with 22 points, was chosen the tournament’s most valuable player.

Kearny 55, Bonita Vista 47--Tommy Rawlins (16 points) and all-tournament selection Darnay Scott (13) led Kearny (9-4) over Bonita Vista (7-4) in the consolation championship.

Montgomery Tournament

San Dieguito 79, Central (El Centro) 49--Tournament MVP Brian Malewicz scored 24 points in the championship game at Montgomery.

Castle Park 57, Christian 55--After a peculiar first half--Christian won the first quarter, 20-6, and Castle Park won the second quarter, 20-9--both teams scored nine points in the third before the Trojan’s outscored Christian, 22-17 in the fourth for third place.

Nogales Christmas Tournament

Torrey Pines 80, Redondo Beach 47--Bart Brandenburg scored 21 points and was named to the all-tournament team as Torrey Pines (12-1) claimed the consolation championship in Pomona.

Santana Tournament

Bonner (Pennsylvania) 69, Lincoln 63--Freshman guard Archie Robinson (5-feet-1) came off the bench and had five points in the final minute to pull Lincoln within 67-63. But Bonner’s Chris Regan (10 points) scored on a breakaway layup to seal the game.

Chula Vista 69, Hilltop 49--Carnell Penn (17 points) and Daniel Johnson (14 points, 10 rebounds) paced Chula Vista (9-4). Chris Costello (11 points) topped Hilltop scorers.

Rancho Buena Vista 75, Santana 47--Rancho Buena Vista jumped to an early 20-6 lead and cruised into the championship game tonight against Bonner. RBV is 4-4

Estancia Tournament

Vista 69, Costa Mesa 68--With 15 seconds left, Choo Choo Walker scored the winning basket on a breakaway layup after he made a steal as Costa Mesa was attempting to run out the clock.

Brea Tournament

Fallbrook 65, La Mirada 48--Chris Miller contributed 27 points, 25 of those in the second and third quarters, for the Warriors. Teammate Travis Teagle scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Fallbrook (8-2) plays El Dorado today at 2:30, in the fifth place game.

Ontario Kiwanis Tournament

St. Augustine 73, Serra (LA) 70--The Saints outscored Serra, 20-6, in the third quarter, then almost let their, 59-44, lead slip away by getting outscored, 26-14, in the fourth at Ontario High School. Serra is 8-3.

Girls

Point Loma/Ben Fisher Tournament

North (Bakersfield) 40, Point Loma 35--Injuries cost Point Loma the championship as the Pointers (12-1) lost for only the second time in 170 home games since 1983. With Point Loma leading by five early in the third quarter Tyeast Brown, a Times’ all-county selection last season, fell and injured her knee. She left the game (with 10 points) as did Stacy Wainwright (14 points) in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Another Pointer, Ericka Crittenden did not play because of a knee injury.

Oceanside 60, Granite Hills 37--Mildred Conston led Oceanside (7-4) to a third-place finish over Granite Hills (6-6) with 22 points.

San Marcos 29, Helix 23--Tami Oviatt had 16 points as San Marcos (5-7) took fifth.

Patriot Tournament

Rancho Buena Vista 55, University (Irvine) 49--Three players, Shawna Edge (17 points), Stephanie Howells (13) and Skiy Burton (12) scored in double figures for RBV at Orange Glen.

Ramona Tournament

Prince Rupert (Canada) 72, USDHS 65--Vieira Joanna, the tournament most valuable player, had 33 points to lead Prince Rupert in the championship. Kelly O’Neill had 17 for USDHS.