TUSTIN – After erasing a nine-point deficit in the final minutes, Beckman’s boys basketball team was in prime position to steal a victory from Trabuco Hills.
Fortunately for the Mustangs, Dylan Thoerner missed a 3-point shot at the end of regulation and Trabuco Hills prevailed in overtime 59-53 behind Chase Anderson’s 19 points.
Trabuco Hills coach Sean Sullens was relieved after seeing Thoerner’s potential game-winner miss the mark.
“We actually defended the pick and roll,” Sullens said. “They killed us with their stud number 11 (Thoerner). I told them if you want to win the game you have to defend that play.”
Dylan Thoerner’s buzzer beater comes up short for Beckman. The Patriots lost to Trabuco Hills in overtime 59-53. Chase Anderson led the Mustangs with 19 points. pic.twitter.com/He6cFYxMef
— David Delgado (@DavidDelgado_OC) January 6, 2018
After a solid night of shooting, Thoerner (15 points) missed a difficult shot on the last-second play called by Beckman coach John Goins.
“We were tied with the ball, seven seconds left and we saw something that we were trying to exploit,” Goins said, “which was how they were playing the ball screens with Thoerner. We just couldn’t really get that one done. I wish I had one more second on the clock.”
Ryan Sprosty had 11 points for the Patriots (7-9) and Andy Chen contributed 10 points.
Anderson scored six points in the extra period as Trabuco Hills (14-3) pulled away to secure the win. Fellow captain Quentin Watts finished with 14 points including four 3-pointers and Kelvin Cabrera chipped in with 11 points off the bench.
Sullens praised the first-half efforts of Watts and Cabrera as they helped the Mustangs set the tone.
“Q (Watts) stepped up for us especially early on,” Sullens said, “and then Kelvin Cabrera had 10 in the first half and really helped pace us.”
“Beckman is a good team, they played very hard and it’s going to make us better and get ready for the South Coast League.”
The Mustangs will look to add to their five-game winning streak next week against San Juan Hills, which is their final game before they begin league play.