South Coast League : Mission Viejo Clinches Top Seed, Share of Title

Tom Desiano’s free throws with one second left not only sealed Mission Viejo’s 61-57 victory Friday night over host El Toro, they also helped assure the Diablos of the South Coast League’s No. 1 seed in the Southern Section 4-A playoffs.

The senior guard’s two free throws were the final points of the game, in which Mission Viejo also clinched a share of the league title.

Desiano had been fouled after intercepting an El Toro pass. With six seconds left, the Chargers trailed, 59-57, and were trying to work the ball closer to the basket when Desiano picked off a pass by El Toro guard Tim McLain.

El Toro had outscored the Diablos, 18-13, in the third quarter to take a 46-44 lead entering the final quarter.

The Chargers increased their lead to 50-44, but then Mission Viejo’s balanced attack began to take over.

“Give El Toro a lot of credit,” Mission Viejo Coach Bob Minier said. “They played exceptionally well. We could never get any real momentum going throughout the game. I’m just glad our kids kept their poise when we got six points down.”

Mission Viejo (9-1 in league, 20-4 overall) led, 59-56, with 14 seconds to play, but a strange series of plays almost cost them the victory.

McLain was fouled with eight seconds to play, sending him to the free-throw line. He made the first foul shot, cutting it to 59-57. The second free throw missed and Diablo center Tim Knowles came down with the rebound cleanly, but he was tied up by several Charger defenders and a jump ball was called with six seconds left.

On the ensuing tipoff, Knowles was called for a movement violation by the officials, apparently giving the ball to the Chargers with five seconds left. The referees then ordered one more second back on the clock, claiming that Knowles’ infraction occurred before the jump ball, giving the Chargers six seconds to tie the game.

South Coast League

League Overall School W L W L Mission Viejo 9 1 20 4 Dana Hills 8 3 16 5 Capistrano Valley 7 4 19 5 El Toro 5 5 10 12 Laguna Hills 4 6 12 11 San Clemente 3 7 7 13 Irvine 0 10 6 16

That is when the Chargers inbounded the ball to McLain, who had his pass picked off by Desiano.

El Toro’s Jeff Stone led all scorers with 22 points and teammate Scott Shockey added 15, but one of the key plays for the Chargers was turned in by freshman guard Bret Johnson, son of El Toro football coach Bob Johnson. The younger Johnson scored only five points, but it was his three-point play on a steal and drive to the basket that gave the Chargers their first lead of the second half at 44-42.

MISSION VIEJO (61)--Desiano 17, Minier 15, Hill 5, Herdman 6, Knowles 14, Pederson 4.

EL TORO (57)--Shockey 15, Stone 22, McLain 4, Moynihan 6, Myers 2, Markert 3, Johnson 5.

Dana Hills 63, San Clemente 48--The Dolphins (8-3, 16-5) stayed within two games of league-leading Mission Viejo with two games left to play. Will Jeffers led the Dolphins with 20 points and Bryan McSweeney added 11 in the game at Dana Hills.

SAN CLEMENTE (48)--Wade 11, Villanueva 12, Thomas 2, Greenberg 15, Reese 6, Koepsell 2.

DANA HILLS (63)--McSweeney 11, Mathieu 14, Esteban 6, Jeffers 20, Lyon 6, Duby 2, Delfs 2, Matrel 2.