Boys basketball: Downey riddles Mesa zone

WHITTIER - Designated host Downey High riddled the Costa Mesa zone

defense with 12 three-pointers, including five each in the second and

third quarters to hand the Mustangs an 87-56 first-round boys basketball

defeat Monday in the Sonora/Troy Tournament at La Serna High.

Costa Mesa (3-3), which received 15 points from senior Chad Vakili and

10 from senior Nolan Clark, led, 18-13, after one period. But the

Mustangs trailed, 39-30, at halftime and were outscored, 31-10, in the

third quarter to sustain their second straight blowout loss.

Mesa fell to Mater Dei, 82-44, in a nonleague home game Friday.

The Mustangs return to action today at 4:30 p.m. at La Serna against

the loser of Monday’s Marina-Chaparral first-round contest.

Carlos Jaime and David Conte added eight points apiece for the

Mustangs, who hit 5 of 10 free throws. In its first five games, Mesa had

shot better than 80% from the foul line.

Downey, which had four scorers in double figures and received at least

one three-pointer from seven players, improved to 3-2.

SONORA/TROY TOURNAMENT

Downey 87, Costa Mesa 56

First roundScore by Quarters

Costa Mesa 18 12 10 16 - 56

Downey 13 26 31 17 - 87

Costa Mesa - Vakili 15, Clark 10, Jaime 8, Conte 8, Krikorian 4,

Millward 7, Rowe 2, Ball 2, Stroman 0, Trinh 0, Kohara 0.

3-pt. goals - Vakili 3, Conte 1, Clark 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Downey - Johnson 17, Perez 16, Cunningham 14, Haraly 11, Tapete 9,

Rivera 7, Branch 4, Feloza 4, Espinoza 3, Diokovic 2.

3-pt. goals - Perez 4, Cunningham 3, Haraly 1, Rivera 1, Tapete 1,

Espinoza 1, Johnson 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.