All La Costa Canyon needed was a fire lit under it to win the American Division of the Holiday Classic. It took some time, but that fire was indeed stoked, and the Mavericks downed Righetti on Friday night, 60-52 at Torrey Pines High School.
LCC came out of the locker room and into the second half like a house of fire, erasing a 31-25 Righetti halftime lead in a matter of moments. The run paced the Mavericks to a win.
“[Head] coach [Drew Cassaw] told us pick up the defense, don’t give up any more second chance points, get back in transition and get on them in the first three minutes [of the half],” American Division Most Valuable Player Matt Shrigley said, adding with a laugh: “But a little bit more spirited than that.”
Whatever -- or however -- the La Costa Canyon head coach rallied the troops, they responded. The Mavericks went on a 12-0 run in the third quarter, then slammed the door by keeping Righetti without a point until 2:40 left in the fourth.
Key to the Mavs’ dominant defense was shutting down Righetti star Hunter Walker. Walker hit up La Costa Canyon for 18 points in the first half, but was handcuffed without a point in the second.
La Costa Canyon turned rival Torrey Pines’ gym into its own for the night. A noisy contingent of Maverick faithful cheered on the rally, and the team obliged with a balanced effort. Four LCC players scored in double figures, led by San Diego State commit Shrigley and All-Tournament selection David Travers. Both scored 16 points.
Jeff Van Dyke had a hot shooting night. He dropped 15, including three 3-pointers, while David Beery recorded 10 points.
Shrigley said winning the Holiday Classic is a vital building block to the Mavericks’ aspirations in 2012.
“We’re playing really well right now, gelling together,” he said. “Another CIF [San Diego Section] championship is the goal in the back of our minds right now.”
The Mavericks claimed their Section’s title a season ago, and until March, now have another trophy to join their CIF crown in the case.
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