Crean Lutheran’s Hunter Caplan moves the ball as Cypress guard Ethan Mai defends Friday night. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, John Luciano, Samantha Burgett and Howard Lyon).
Crean Lutheran’s boys basketball team battled back from a four-point halftime deficit to defeat Cypress 72-60 in a Crestview League opener Friday night at Crean Lutheran.
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It was a back and forth game up until the final two minutes of the game before the Saints (13-5, 1-0) were able to finish strong against the Centurions (14-6, 0-1), according to Crean Lutheran Coach Austin Loeb.
“Hats off to Cypress and Coach {Derek] Mitchell as they are a very disciplined team and play great team basketball,” Loeb told OC Sports Zone. “I thought our guys pulled together late in the fourth quarter and started to execute which helped us get the lead and ultimately the win.”
Hunter Caplan led Crean Lutheran with 19 points and two assists. Chadrack Mpoyi had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Nick Giarrusso had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Saints.
Ryan Gov scored 21 points and Gavin Kroll 18 points to lead Cypress.
Crean Lutheran was again without starter Jacob Majok, who is out with an ankle injury, Loeb said.
In another league game, La Habra (15-4) defeated Foothill 57-46 Friday night at Foothill.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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