Connor Everman of San Marcos shoots over Ventura’s Bryce Fausset during the Royals’ 50-48 victory.
Connor Everman scored 17 points, and San Marcos held off Ventura, 50-48, to create a three-way tie for second place in the Channel League on Thursday.
The Royals, Ventura and Buena all finished with 4-4 records in league. Ventura won coin flips to receive the league’s No. 2 seeding, leaving San Marcos and Buena to play a one-game playoff for third place and the league’s third automatic CIF playoff berth.
The teams will play Friday at Buena at 5 p.m.
Point guard Ryan McCarthy returned to the line-up for San Marcos (19-8), which played without injured starters Scott Everman and Tyson Miller. McCarthy, who missed the Dos Pueblos game with an injured ankle, scored 12 points on Thursday. Kele Mkpado added eight points.
Connor Everman stepped up when the Royals needed him. He knocked down five 3-pointers, four coming in the second half.
Coach Landon Boucher said the team got contributions from all six of its seniors, as the Royals snapped a four-game league losing streak. Luke Larsen hit a couple of big 3-pointers and Peter Durak and Walker Odell provided good energy and defense.
Alec Norman led Ventura with 13 points.
San Marcos and Buena split in their league meetings. San Marcos won at Buena in the first round, 54-44, and lost at home, 52-46, in the second round.
Buena lost at Santa Barbara, 60-42, on Thursday night.
