San Marcos senior Chad Ridenour looks to pass out of a double-team on Wednesday. (Presidio Sports Photos)
San Marcos tucked away a 68-54 first-round CIF victory on Wednesday, besting visiting Hawthorne behind a combined 34 points from seniors Thayer White and Cade Ridenour.
The result moves the Royals into Friday’s Division 3-AA second round and a game at Charter Oak.
Paxton Ridgway took all seven of his free throw attempts in the final period, making six.
White was 8-for-10 from the field for 16 points and nine rebounds. Ridenour scored a team-high 18 points with four rebounds and a pair of three-pointers.
The Royals made a point of getting the ball into the paint on offense and knocked down 21-of-the-32 shots they attempted inside the arc as a result.
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“We really want to punish teams inside and get to the foul line,” said Royals head coach Jarrod Bradley.
As a team, San Marcos was 14-of-18 from the line and 11-of-15 in the fourth quarter.
Paxton Ridgway was the third Royal in double figures with 13 points. Ridgway made 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch as Hawthorne threatened to make it a close game at the end.
“We feel really confident with the ball in his hands,” Bradley said.
Ridgway is San Marcos’ second-best free throw shooter at 76 percent for the season.
Hawthorne, which came into the game with a 3-23 record, trailed 32-18 at halftime but challenged the Royals in the second half by erupting for 36 points.
“I thought they did a good job of attacking us early in the shot clock,” Bradley said.
The Royals’ lead hovered around 20 for much of the third quarter. Hawthorne began chipping away and used a 12-2 run to trim the lead to 49-39 just after the start of the final period.
Hawthorne cut it to 57-49 with under three minutes remaining. The rally fizzled once Hawthorne put San Marcos in the bonus and starting sending the Royals to the free throw line.
The Royals are the second seed in the division and will be the favorites in Friday’s second round game against Charter Oak, the 15th seed.
“I think they’re definitely going to be a lot better,” said Cade Ridenour. “We’re really going to have to bring it. I’m looking forward to that game. It’s going to be an exciting game.”
SAN MARCOS 68, HAWTHORNE 54
HAWTHORNE – Bryant 13, Guerrero 5, Ortiz 15, Bailey 10, Ross 6, Leanas 5.
SAN MARCOS – White 16, Cade Ridenour 18, Wheelock 2, Chad Ridenour 4, Hurtado 6, Hempy 5, Ridgway 13, Bryce Ridenour 3.
Hawthorne 12 6 19 17 – 54
San Marcos 13 19 17 19 – 68
3-pointers – H 3 (Ortiz 3), SM 4 (Cade Ridenour 2, Ridgway, Bryce Ridenour)
