Royal Notches 1st Playoff Win in Record Style, 108-71

Give credit to El Rancho High basketball Coach Mike Lawler for remaining optimistic during a 108-71 drubbing by host Royal in a Southern Section 1-AA Division qualifying-round playoff game Tuesday night.

First, he asked the official scorekeeper which team had the ball at the beginning of the second half. As if it mattered. His Dons trailed, 50-22.

Then he kept a full-court press on the remainder of the game, even though Royal continued to break it with ease--including twice for dunks.

But optimism went only so far for El Rancho (12-12), and it was not far enough to prevent Royal (18-9) from winning its first playoff game in school history in record fashion. The Highlanders set single-game records for total points, field goals (40) and rebounds (58) and broke season records for rebounds (1,088) and points (1,966).

And senior guard David Tyner (21 points) broke another record when he hit his 65th three-point basket, surpassing J. P. Ouelette’s 1989-90 record of 64.

“A lot of people were bagging on us, saying since we were fourth place (in the Marmonte League) that we shouldn’t be here,” Royal Coach Joe Malkinson said. “Well, we lost two overtime games and blew a 19-point lead in league games. Otherwise, we’re league champions.”

Victory was never in doubt for Royal, which shot out to a 23-8 lead and led, 41-14, with four minutes left in the first half. Royal finished 40 of 75 from the field (53%) and made 24 of 26 (92%) free throws.

Kevin Hambly and Jared Byrne, a pair of 6-foot-6 seniors, led the way for the Highlanders. Hambly scored a career-high 36 points--third-highest total in school history--and pulled down 16 rebounds and Byrne scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Royal outrebounded El Rancho, 58-19.