Bishop Diego’s Thomas Lash gets a hand in the face of Carpinteria shooter Marcus Hutchinson.
Of Caleb Richey’s 27 points on Monday, none were more important than the three scored on a 35-to-40 foot bank shot at the buzzer ending the third quarter.
The basket was one of many answers Bishop Diego’s boys basketball team had for Carpinteria as the Cardinals went on to defeat the Warriors 63-51 in a non-league rivalry win.
Marcus Hutchinson had just trimmed Bishop’s lead to six points by making three consecutive free throws after getting fouled on a three-pointer with five seconds on the clock. But Richey took the inbounds pass and a handful of dribbles before launching a near half-court shot that banked home from straight away.
“As soon as I let it go I knew I made it,” Richey said. “I just turned and smiled.”
It seemed each time the Warriors made a move the Cardinals were there to counter.
The Warriors led early, taking a 9-2 lead out of the gates. The Cardinals still trailed at the end of the opening period but outscored the Warriors in each of the final three quarters.
“I think our guys got a little more focused once they were behind,” said Cardinals head coach Dean Prophet. “It is a big rivalry and they didn’t want to hear anything about losing this game.”
Thomas Lash added 16 points for the Cardinals.
“We had a rocky start but we definitely stepped it up in the second half and played to our potential,” Lash said.
Hutchinson recorded a team-high 16 points for the Warriors. Duncan Gordon added 14.
The Warriors were a sharp 9-of-10 at the free-throw line, yet struggled from the field.
“We were getting shots towards the end, they just weren’t falling for us,” lamented Warriors head coach Johnny Ward.
The Warriors, 2-3 in the Frontier League, play Fillmore on Wednesday.
Like Carpinteria, the Cardinals are also 2-3 and play again on Wednesday. Bishop, playing in the Tri-Valley League, travels to Santa Clara.
BISHOP DIEGO 63, CARPINTERIA 51
Bishop Diego – Richey 27, Lash 16, Kwock 4, Sexton 5, Busch 3, Martinez 2, Kohler 6. Totals – 19 FG, 17-20 FT.
Carpinteria – Hutchinson 16, Millhollin 10, Gordon 14, De Alba 5, Craddock 6. Totals – 19 FGs, 9-10 FT.
BISHOP 12 15 20 16 – 63
CARP 15 9 14 13 – 513-pointers – BD 8 (Richey 4, Lash 2, Sexton, Busch) C 4 (Hutchinson 2, Millhollin 2)
Carpinteria’s Xavier De Alba drives against Bishop Diego’s Will Busch. (Presidio Sports Photos)
