Crean Lutheran, led by 6-11 transfer, holds on for narrow victory in California Live opener

Crean Lutheran center Chadrack Mpoyi gets a pre-game handshake during warm-ups Friday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Crean Lutheran High School’s boys basketball team survived a late run by Francis Parker and held on for a 76-73 victory Friday afternoon in the opening round of the California Live Event at Ladera Sports Center.

The Saints, under first-year coach Austin Loeb, are trying to capture their second straight summer tourney title after winning their division in the Section 7 event last weekend in Arizona going 4-0. Crean Lutheran is competing in the OCYSF division, one of 10 divisions in the annual event.

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Junior Hunter Caplan sealed the victory for the Saints, sinking two free throws with 1.1 seconds left for the final margin. Crean Lutheran led 50-35 after the first 16-minute half, but Francis Parker cut into the lead and trailed by just one point with 11 seconds left.

A possible game-winning shot fell off the rim and Caplan rebounded the ball and was fouled.

“It’s summer, I thought we did some really good things at times and showed our inexperience but I think on the offensive end I think there were times when we really moved the ball well,” Loeb said. “We just got to get better on our defensive habits and our communication.

“They’re a smaller team, they moved the ball really well and forced us to communicate and once we figure that out we can be a really high level defensive team with the pieces we have and the length that we have.”

For the second weekend in a row, Crean Lutheran again benefited by the play of 6-11 transfer Chadrack Mpoyi, who sat out last year due to international eligibility rules. Mpoyi, a senior, scored in double figures, had several dunks and numerous rebounds to lead the Saints.

“Chadrack changes the dynamic, he covers up a lot of our deficiencies on the offensive and he’s a really good passer,” Loeb said. “Our guys will find they get a lot of easier shots because he demands so much attention because of his size. I’m really excited for him and he’s worked hard, once he gets some games under his belt, he’s going to be really good for us.

“His recruitment has been heating up these past two weeks. There is a lot of interest. I would say he’s got about 20 to 25 teams that are actively recruiting him and I think nine scholarship offers.”

Caplan, Jacob Majok and Will Malual also scored in double figures for the Saints.

Caplan hit three 3-pointers in the first half and provided leadership throughout the game, coming up clutch late with the key free throws.

“I threw a bad turnover and it almost cost us the game,” Caplan said. “When I got the opportunity to go and try to win it back, I knew I had to be there for my team. They started playing a little tougher defense on me but it started opening the game up more for the bigs because they started face-guarding me a little bit. It was a good team effort.”

Caplan said having Mpoyi in the lineup is a big plus.

“He’s a monster, he’s unstoppable in the paint,” Caplan said. “He has high IQ which a lot of people don’t know yet, he knows when to pass the ball. I can’t wait to build our chemistry even more. He’s really going to lead our team this year, he’s quite a person.”

Caplan hopes the Saints can continue their success when the tournament continues Saturday and wraps up Sunday. Crean Lutheran plays Harvard Westlake Saturday at 1:45 p.m. at Ladera Sports Center.

“We want to win the whole thing and prove that we’re an open division team and we belong with the best teams in the country,” Caplan said.

Caplan is also looking forward to the regular season.

“I’m super excited, I love coach Loeb and I love our new staff, I wish nothing but the best to the old staff as well …. but I’m excited to see what we’re going to do,” he said.

The event is presented by the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association.

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