Bishop Diego used a 17-2 run to close out the third quarter on its way to a 63-53 victory over rival Carpinteria Monday afternoon, securing third place in the Jim Bashore Holiday Cage Classic.
“We saw a different type of intensity today,” said Bishop’s Kai Morphy, who scored 17 points in the win. “All of us were going. We got some of our freshmen going. I don’t know, I think it was the rivalry that got us hyped.”
Bishop (8-6) jumped ahead 14-4 at the end of the first quarter, as the Warriors were unable to find a rhythm offensively in the early going. The Cardinals built a 21-13 lead with four minutes to go in the first half after a put back by freshman Luis Fernandez. Carpinteria (5-6) went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes and led 26-25 at the break.
Despite trailing at the half after playing so well to open the game, Morphy said his team remained confident.
“I don’t think we were ever discouraged at all in this game,” he said. “We knew what we did wrong… so we came back in the second half and we fixed it.”
Carpinteria’s Dylan O’Neill scored eight points in the third quarter, including a three pointer to give the Warriors a 38-32 lead with 4:05 remaining. Bishop then went on its big run courtesy of second-effort plays from Morphy and Conner Streett, who missed the past several games due to a concussion.
“We definitely needed his energy. It sparked the win,” said Bishop coach James Coronado.
Streett was thrilled to be able to take the floor with his teammates again after being sidelined with an injury and said he focused on hustle plays to try and make an impact.
“I told myself that points don’t matter,” he said. “I just wanted to get the rebounds and kick it out to the shooters. My teammates really picked me up.”
Bishop, which lost to Carpinteria 59-57 in overtime on Dec. 4, used Monday’s matchup as a chance to get revenge on its rivals.
“Knowing what happened last time, it just gave us a different type of intensity that we haven’t had yet this season,” Morphy said, adding that the win will make Christmas much more joyful and merry.
As was the case throughout the tournament, Bishop was able to get big minutes from a handful of underclassmen. Freshmen Bryan Trejo and Luis Fernandez scored 10 and seven, respectively. Sophomore Marcus Chan had a team-high 18 points.
“Great effort, great energy and sharing the ball – all that we’ve been asking them to do,” Coronado said. “I know that we’re young and it took them a little while to believe in me… but we’re starting to believe and it’s a beautiful thing.
“It’s all coming together.”
For the Warriors, O’Neill finished with 27 points. Matt Garcia and Gabe Medel each scored eight points. After the game, coach Scott Sorich said his team just needs to play more consistent basketball moving forward.
“Only scoring four points in the first quarter just sets you back,” he said. “We had to come back from a 10-point deficit and we were able to make up for in the second quarter. We just didn’t have our game today.”
email: mwhite@newspress.com
