Muir High School, coached by former UCSB star Idris Jones, had its share of clutch shots in the Holiday Classic, beating both Bishop Diego and San Marcos at the buzzer.
Dos Pueblos could have easily suffered the same fate, leading 35-33 with just 16 seconds remaining, but the two Evans — Muñoz and Hamilton — stepped up in the final 80 seconds to help DP take the consolation championship 37-33 Tuesday.
Muñoz didn’t think twice about pulling up for a 3-pointer with 1:20 left, burying the shot to put the Chargers up 35-29. Hamilton showed similar poise a minute later, sinking two free throws to make it a two-possession game before Muir got its last possession with 12 ticks on the clock
“We knew they were going to intentionally foul us at the end, and when they fouled Indiana (Hamilton’s nickname), we were happy he was there and he sank both the free throws. That was big for us,” said coach Joe Zamora.
The coach had no second thoughts about Muñoz pulling up for a longball with a two-point lead and 1:20 left, saying that the senior is on the same level as ex-DP star Sean Park — now a Westmont Warrior — when it comes to making big-time shots. Muñoz finished 15 points on five treys.
“The shot clock was winding down, so I just had to shoot it and it went down,” he said. “Basically whenever I have it open I shoot it, so my confidence is high right now. I worked really hard on my shot in the offseason.”
DP was in control at the half, and Malik Heptot swished a turnaround jumper from the baseline early in the third to put the Chargers up 22-13. Hamilton got an offensive rebound and put-back a few minutes later to make it 27-16 with five to go, but Muir — which struggled from the floor and the free-throw line (4-for-12) — started getting to the basket and narrowed the gap.
The Mustangs chiseled away at the lead throughout the fourth, and was no doubt thinking of going for the buzzer-beater trifecta in the waning moments. Evan & Evan made sure that didn’t happen.
Heptot earned all-tournament team for the Chargers, who head into 2009 with a 9-6 record.
DOS PUEBLOS 37, MUIR 33
MUIR — Kim 13, Owens 9, Young 2, Gordell 2, Felton 2, Dunlop 2, Hayes 3. Totals 14 4-12 33.
DOS PUEBLOS — Miranda 2, Muñoz 15, Hamilton 4, Larinan 3, Heller 2, Heptot 5, Vickers 6. Totals 14 4-8 37.
Muir…………….7 4 13 9 — 33
Dos Pueblos….11 6 12 8 — 37
3-point goals — M 1 (Hayes), DP 5 (Muñoz).
Total fouls — M 12, DP 8.
