Dos Pueblos found a way to get the ball inside and big-man Malik Heptot showed his appreciation with 21 points in the Chargers’ 61-47 win over Oak Park Monday in the Holiday Classic. DP will play Muir at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the consolation championship game.
“We talked about getting the passes higher to Malik. Our entries from the wing and the high-low were up at around 10 or 12 feet, which makes it easy for him to get the ball,” said coach Joe Zamora. “But he’s unselfish too, because he’s always looking for the open guard… I was real proud of how unselfish we were today.”
The Chargers (8-6) cut their turnovers down to only 12, almost half of what they’ve been averaging, according to Zamora. DP also grabbed 34 rebounds, 16 of which came off of the offensive glass.
Gabriel Renteria was strong in support of sophomore starter Pablo Miranda at point guard, scoring 10 points on the night. Evan Muñoz also scored 10, and both he and Renteria knocked down a pair of shots from beyond the arc.
The Chargers raced out to a 34-18 lead at the half, and withstood a stretch of hot shooting by the Eagles at the start of the third.
The Chargers will now do their best to hold off a speedy Muir squad which has had luck on its side in the tournament, beating Bishop Diego and San Marcos on buzzer-beaters.
DOS PUEBLOS 61, OAK PARK 47
DOS PUEBLOS — Miranda 2, Muñoz 10, Hamilton 4, Renteria 10, Larinan 4, Heller 2, Heptot 21, Vickers 8. Totals 24 9-13 61.
OAK PARK — Hajda 3, Brodie 13, Stevens 4, Lane 2, Levine 13, Lamb 4, Gundell 2. Totals 17 7-10 47.
Dos Pueblos…..20 14 12 15 — 61
Oak Park………..12 6 16 13 — 47
3-point goals—DP 4 (Muñoz 2, Renteria 2), OP 6.
Total fouls—DP 11, OP 13.
