Capistrano Valley holds off Portola’s late charge for victory in Feast Week game

Capo Valley players exchange handshakes with Portola players after Tuesday’s win. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Capistrano Valley’s boys basketball team held off a late charge by Portola to capture a 54-45 victory Tuesday afternoon on day two of Feast Week hosted by Foothill High School.

The Cougars (3-0) got big games from 6-2 junior guard Gabe Williams, who had 16 points and 6-8 center Kasra Tousi, who had 14 points.

Brady Kim scored 19 points and Krishna Gade and Raef Dulay had eight points each for Portola (3-3).

Capistrano Valley Coach Brian Mulligan credited Portola for an excellent defensive job on the Cougars senior guard Matthew Leyco, who has been averaging about 29 points but was held to nine points after scoring 34 in the previous game.

“They played it really smart, he (Portola’s Brian Smith) is a good coach and finally my big guy (Tousi) kind of came alive and opened up some things a little bit,” Mulligan said.

“It was a good team effort, but we struggle a little bit to score. We technically defend pretty well but they shoot the three’s so well it didn’t look like it as much but we still held them to 45 points. That’s the most we’ve allowed this year. Like Bill Mulligan (his late father and former college coach) used to say ‘good defense wins.'”

Capo Valley led 26-12 at halftime and extended its lead to 42-32 after three quarters.

Tousi fouled out in the fourth quarter and Portola tried to capitalize. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 52-45 on a 3-pointer by Kim with 53 seconds left.

However Capo Valley was able to hold on for the win.

The Feast Week event continues Wednesday at Marina High School.

RELATED

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com