Costa Mesa in over its head

Mustangs fail to knock down shots against powerhouse El Toro, which uses its height advantage for lopsided win in Bill Reynolds Classic.NEWPORT BEACH -- Before its game against perennial Orange County power El Toro, Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball Coach Ryan Schachter said his team, which doesn’t have a player taller than 6-foot-3, would have to push the ball and score in the 70s to have a chance to win.

El Toro -- which reached the CIF Southern Section Division I-A final last year -- boasted a significant height advantage, especially at center where 7-foot-2 senior David Foster roamed.

Foster tallied 20 points and nine rebounds as the Chargers defeated the Mustangs, 66-28, in the first round of the Bill Reynolds Classic Tuesday night at Newport Harbor High.

Foster scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half. Foster and 6-5 forward Jared Kaiser -- who finished with eight points and six rebounds -- blocked or altered several of Costa Mesa’s shots around the key.

“For us to even have a shot, we had to shoot in the 70s,” Schachter said. “We weren’t scoring.”

Costa Mesa had to rely on its outside shooting, but the shots weren’t falling. The Mustangs made just four of 23 three-pointers.

“That’s not going to get it done,” Schachter said.

The Chargers took it to the Mustangs early and often. El Toro (2-0) jumped to an 11-0 lead when Foster put down the first of his four slam dunks.

Scott Knox (team-high 13 points) kept the Mustangs (0-1) in the game early, knocking down two three-pointers and making all three of his free throws after getting fouled behind the three-point line. Knox banked in a half-court shot at the first-quarter buzzer to pull the Mustangs to within 17-9.

But Costa Mesa was outscored, 17-4, in the second quarter. El Toro extended its lead to 53-18 after three quarters.

“We know they are a much better shooting team than what they showed tonight,” El Toro Coach Todd Dixon said. “We have to play them again in the opening of the Anaheim Convention Center Tournament, and they still concern me.”

Nonleague

El Toro 66,

Costa Mesa 28

Score by Quarters