FALCONS’ HOT HANDS TOO MUCH FOR TITANS
In an Open Division that is as open as any time in recent memory, one disastrous quarter can spell elimination.
Trailing by four at the end of the first period, Poway turned the ball over seven times in the second quarter, missed seven shots, was outscored 25-4 and fell 74-43 at Torrey Pines High in a San Diego Section quarterfinal basketball contest on Friday.
Stanford-bound Brandon Angel fueled the run with nine points, Cam Klein added eight and Chris Howell, who played a great all-around game, added six.
Poway scored six points in a near 13-minute span as Torrey Pines opened a 28-point lead.
“I think we had a 33-3 run in a game last year, but I don’t remember anything like this in a game as big as this against a team as good as Poway,” Angel said.
“We have emphasized starting games fast. I think we’re peaking at the right time.”
Third-seeded Torrey Pines (25-4), winners of 14 in a row, advances to Wednesday’s semifinals against St. Augustine.
All eight teams in the Open Division advance to the Southern California
Torrey Pines 74, Poway 43
Regionals.
So sixth-seeded Poway (24-5), which saw an 11-game winning streak snapped, will wait until next Sunday to see where it plays.
Angel led all scorers with 21, Howell added 16 and Klein finished with 11.
“Chris Howell was phenomenal,” Angel said. “He does so many things people don’t see.
“He runs our offense. He’s poised. “He doesn’t get enough credit for what he does for us.”
Adam Sevier, who fell hard and injured his left wrist early in the third quarter, led Poway with 18. No other Titans player cracked double figures.
Poway turned the ball over 19 times — 12 in the first half.
Torrey Pines had nine turnovers, only one in the first half.
Torrey Pines outrebounded Poway 27-19.
This was the first true road loss for the Titans, who were 8-0 on the road. Poway’s lone home loss was to Torrey Pines.
The Falcons improved to 13-2 at home.
Torrey Pines beat Poway 68-63 at Poway in December.
john.maffei@sduniontribune.com