TRANSFERS GIVE MUSTANGS BOOST IN RUNAWAY VICTORY

Playing without two starters, Otay Ranch got major contributions from a pair of transfers, played its “most complete game of the season” Tuesday and raced to a convincing 75-44 win over Vista.

The victory in the quarterfinals of the Governor Division of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic at Rancho Buena Vista High puts the Mustangs (7-4) into today’s 8:35 p.m. semifinal at RBV.

“I was concerned,” said Otay Ranch coach David Kulowitch. “We had two starters out with illness (Nico Cervantes and Keoni Enriquez), were coming off a loss (in a non-bracket game Monday), and we were at a considerable size disadvantage.

“But we got a pair of transfers eligible for this game, got after it, and played our most complete game of the season.”

Otay Ranch turned Vista over 31 times — 10 in the second quarter when the Mustangs outscored the Panthers (4-6) by 18.

Vista trailed just 17-12 after the first quarter, but was behind by 23 at the break after that disastrous second

Otay Ranch 75, Vista 44

quarter.

The Panthers cut its deficit to 18 by scoring the first five points of the third quarter and had it down to 18 again midway through the fourth quarter before Otay Ranch went on an 18-4 run to end the game.

“I know illness is hurting a lot of teams in the tournament,” said Vista coach Anthony Bolton. “But we can’t worry about anyone else but ourselves.

“We need to get back to practice.”

Junior guard Elijah Newsome led the way for Otay Ranch with 25 points, eight in that second quarter when the Mustangs made five 3pointers.

“When we play our game, play simple, play hard, we force turnovers,” Newsome said. “When we get everyone healthy, I think we can be the best Division 2 team in San Diego.”

Adam De La Cruz added 16 points for Otay Ranch while Stephen Pangilinan scored 13.

Both are transfers from Eastlake and were playing their first game of the season.

“Those guys are going to help us a ton,” Kulowitch said.

Sophomore Percy Whittaker scored just four points, but battled Vista’s 6-foot-10 junior Cyprian Hyde down low and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Maleek Lasisi scored six first-half points for the Mustangs, but had seven rebounds as Otay Ranch outrebounded Vista 29-10.

“We really had to team rebound because they were so much bigger,” Kulowitch said. “The guys did a really nice job on the boards.”

Hyde, a big man with a soft touch, led Vista with 17 points, 11 rebounds and he blocked three shots.

Benji Hilstock added 14 points for the Panthers, making a trio of 3-pointers.

“I keep telling the guys how good they can be,” said Kulowitch, who is in his first year at Otay Ranch after a stint at Ramona.

“Otay Ranch is in a talentrich area. We can really build a program here.

“This team still has some growing up to do. But we’re developing into a pretty decent squad.”