Laguna Blanca’s 16-point halftime lead left the building in a hurry Wednesday night, as the boys basketball team found itself trailing by a point with 1:17 to go.
Such is life for a young squad in a young season.
The Owls pulled it out, however, as Connor Murphy hit four clutch free throws in the final minute to stave off Villanova 55-53 in the opening round of the Bishop Diego/Laguna Blanca Tournament at Merovick Gym.
“That was almost a big meltdown,” said coach Sal Rodriguez. “If the guys would have just run the plays and played with patience it wouldn’t have happened, so we’ll have to get better in that.”
Murphy, Laguna’s quarterback in football, scored 19 points while standout running back Luther Tarver-Burks hit the hardwood and tallied 21 points with seven rebounds. Jake Longstreth, the undersized-Owls’ big-man at 5-foot-11, grabbed eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The hosts appeared to be cruising with a 36-20 lead over their former Condor-League foes at the break, but the Wildcats tightened things up and began to chip away at the lead. As the Villanova defense turned up the pressure, the Laguna offense started to sputter, and by the time the fourth quarter was halfway through the dumbfounded Owls found themselves trailing 47-46.
Tarver-Burks drove the lane and drew contact for a three-point play at the 5:34 mark to put Laguna up 50-48, and the lead didn’t grow much the rest of the way. Villanova got a layup with 1:50 remaining to take a 52-51 lead, but Murphy came through with a steal and a pair of made free throws to regain the lead with just over a minute to play. He knocked down two more just a few seconds later after a Villanova technical foul. Laguna Blanca finished 19-of-24 from the charity stripe on the night.
Laguna turned the ball over with a two-point lead and 27 seconds remaining, but a traveling violation by the Wildcats sealed the deal.
The maturation process continues when the Fillmore Flashes head to Hope Ranch for a 7 p.m. matchup on Thursday night.
LAGUNA BLANCA 55, VILLANOVA 53
LB—Murphy 19, Mikles 2, Gray 3, Tarver-Burks 21, Dusebout 3, Buckett 2, Lander 2, Longstreth 4. FG 19, FT 19-24.
