BOYS’ BASKETBALL / CENTURY TOURNAMENT : Sonora Defeats Calvary Chapel

SANTA ANA —  Calvary Chapel tried to play the role of giant killer, but Sonora and seven-foot center Craig Clark managed to grind out a 65-57 victory in the Century Holiday boys’ basketball tournament final Friday at Century High.

Although Clark, who has signed a letter of intent with San Jose State, had his second consecutive sub-par performance, Sonora forward Chad Fister had 27 points and nine rebounds to help the Raiders (13-2), ranked seventh in Orange County, hold off feisty Calvary Chapel.

Clark wasn’t the only Raider to have an off night. Sonora Coach Mike Murphy benched starting point guard Sergio Hernandez for the majority of the second half, and the senior, who had 23 points in a semifinal victory over Cypress, finished with only eight points.

Clark scored only 11 points, but he had four blocked shots to help set the tempo early as Sonora raced to an 18-2 lead in the opening six minutes.

“We thought after that first quarter that we could do anything against them,” Murphy said. “But they did a nice job coming back. It seemed we could block three or four shots then the ball would bounce around and they would make a three-pointer.”

Calvary Chapel freshman Joe Ortiz did most of the long-range damage, making five of nine three-pointers to finish with 15 points. With less than one minute remaining in the second quarter, Ortiz’s third three-pointer of the period made it 30-26.

Sonora responded with Fister scoring 12 of his team’s 18 points in the third quarter to help push the lead to 13.

But Calvary Chapel’s Kevin Falconer, who had 11 points and five assists, capped an 8-0 run to make it 49-44 with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Falconer made another jumper eight seconds into the fourth quarter to make it 52-48, but the Eagles (11-2) could draw no closer.

“I thought we took it to them after the first five minutes,” Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer said. “No one likes to lose, but after getting down 18-2 and to come back like that . . . “

Calvary Chapel’s other loss came against Savanna. The Eagles’ tough nonleague schedule continues when they meet top-ranked Mater Dei Jan. 4 before beginning Olympic League play.

In the third-place game:

Cypress 60, Century 51--The Empire League foes played a close one, but forward Chad Boberg helped Cypress (12-3) pull away. Boberg scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half and Derek Mitchell and Eric Solheim each added 11 for Cypress.

Vibol Ros scored 22 points and Hector Beltran added 18 for Century (9-6), which drew within five points with two minutes remaining but could draw no closer.

In consolation games:

Buena Park 56, Santiago 46--Towan Oliver scored 20 points to lead Buena Park (8-7) in the consolation championship game. Ralph Robledo scored 18 points for Santiago.

Brethren Christian 67, Anaheim 60--Ryan Babcock paced Brethren Christian (5-7) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Chanta Iemsisanith and John Padilla each scored 17 points for Anaheim (1-11).

Villa Park 65, Laguna Hills 52--The Spartans outscored Laguna Hills, 27-9, in the third quarter after trailing by five at the half. Jason Hutson scored 13 to lead Villa Park (7-5) and Mike Scaglione had 12 for the Hawks (7-4).

Sunny Hills 70, Costa Mesa 43--Ben Nicolas scored 17 points for Sunny Hills (6-9). Mike Montoya had 14 points for Costa Mesa.