Chad Ridenour’s 18 points and Christian Mkpado’s second straight double-double helped San Marcos take down Santa Margarita for the first time in the program’s history on Thursday in a 40-36 victory at the San Luis Obispo Tournament.
San Marcos ups its record to 2-0 and faces Thousand Oaks, ranked No. 14 in the LA Times’ Southland poll, in its next game on Friday.
The Royals were outscored in the second half but had built up a seven-point cushion at halftime by limiting the Eagles to 12 first-half points.
“We played solid D the whole game,” said San Marcos head coach Jarrod Bradley, who employed a variety of defensive schemes to keep Santa Margarita off balance.
The Eagles fought back to tie in the beginning of the fourth but Bryant Koopmans delivered a clutch 3-pointer to put the Royals back into the lead for good.
JP Dodson made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch in 1-and-1 situations to help close out the victory.
Mkpado followed up his 14 point, 14 rebound opener with an 11 point, 12 rebound night on Thursday. Ridenour knocked down four 3-point baskets, plus six free throws after being fouled on two 3-point attempts.
Matt Sawden and Brian Thompson led the Eagles, who are 0-1, with nine points each.
SAN MARCOS 40, SANTA MARGARITA 36
San Marcos – Manzo 1, Koopmans 3, Mkpado 11, Ridenour 18, Dodson 5, White 2. Totals – 12 FG 11-16 FT, 40.
Santa Margarita Wood 3, Kremzer 5, Sawden 9, Thompson 9, Blanchard 3, White 4, Meritt 3. 13 FG, 5-9 FT, 36.
San Marcos 12 7 9 12 — 40
Santa Margarita 6 6 12 12 — 36
3-pointers – San Marg. 5 (Wood, Thompson 3, Merritt) SM 5 ( Ridenour 4, Koopsman 1) Total Fouls – SM 9, SantaM 15.
