Over the last several seasons, Coastal League boys basketball has evolved into a two-team race, with Santa Fe Christian and La Jolla Country Day slugging it out. Coaching changes at both schools didn’t change a thing.
The teams hooked up in another nail biter on Saturday, with Drew Konsmo scoring five points in overtime and grabbing a key rebound as No. 6-ranked Santa Fe Christian edged No. 5 La Jolla Country Day, 69-67. Earlier this season in a tournament game, Country Day edged SFC by two points.
“That’s exactly what we expected,” Konsmo said. “Country Day is a really good team.”
The game was tied or the lead changed hands 24 times — 13 of those in the fourth quarter or overtime. With the game tied at 62 in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, both teams missed chances to win.
Christopher Carrillo of LJCD, who finished with 38 points, gave the Torreys the first lead in OT.
Konsmo quickly tied it at 64. Carrillo’s second basket of OT gave LJCD the lead again, but Konsmo answered with a 3-pointer with 40 seconds to play. Brycen MacKenzie’s two free throws with eight seconds left gave SFC (12-5, 3-0) a three-point lead.
Carrillo was fouled with two seconds to play. He made the first, but missed the second intentionally. The rebound, however, kicked away and SFC walked away a winner.
“I got a couple of open shots in OT and shot with confidence,” Konsmo said. “We have the freedom to shoot if we’re open.
“Country Day (13-5, 2-1) is really good. And Carrillo tears us up. He’s a really good player.”After scoring two points in the first quarter, Carrillo scored 12 points in the second quarter, six in the third, 13 in the fourth and five in OT. James Wei, who fouled out in OT, finished with 13 points for LJCD and Ely Elegado added nine. Carrillo also had eight rebounds.
Konsmo finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Dax Hall added 14 points for SFC, while MacKenzie finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Greyson Mundis added 15.
Santa Fe Christian, playing a tough schedule, hosts No. 3 St. Augustine on Tuesday.
“It’s always good to win at home,” Konsmo said. “Our crowd really energizes us.”
Santa Fe Christian sprinted to a nine-point lead in the second quarter, but the Eagles went cold and Country Day went on a 13-0 run to take and four-point lead. Christopher Carrillo fueled LJCD’s run with a 12-point quarter.