Sophomore forward Thayer White scored 17 points and added five assists as the San Marcos boys basketball team got its season off on the right foot with a 57-48 win at Oak Park on Tuesday.
Christian Mkpado added 14 points with 14 rebounds for San Marcos, which trailed 36-34 heading into the fourth quarter but outscored the Eagles 25-12 in the final period. THe Royals (1-0) made all three of their treys in the fourth quarter as well as all four of their free throws.
San Marcos ran a triangle-and-two on Oak Park’s top two players, Austin Ramljak and Landon Hajdu, and held Ramljak to just five points and Hajdu to 13.
“We finished really well in the fourth quarter, which was very encouraging,” said coach Jarrod Bradley.
The Royals play Santa Margarita on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the San Luis Obispo Kiwanis De Tolosa Tournament.
SAN MARCOS 57, OAK PARK 48
SAN MARCOS — Guild 6, Koopmans 4, Mkpado 14, Ridenour 9, Dodson 3, Welsh 4, White 17. Totals 23 9-12 57.
OAK PARK (roster unavailable) — #1 6, #3 13, #5 8, #21 11, #23 5, #41 5.
San Marcos…6 14 14 25 — 57
Oak Park…11 10 15 12 — 48
3-point goals — SM 3 (Ridenour 2, Dodson 1). OP 7 (#1 2, #3 1, #21 2, #23 1, #41 1). Total fouls — SM 14, OP 15. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none. Records — SM 1-0.
