BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Capistrano Valley Hits Nebraska Cold Snap, Shoots 29% in Loss

Capistrano Valley’s trip to Nebraska could be a disappointing one if the Cougars continue to play like they did Saturday night, Coach Mark Thornton said.

Fremont High, ranked second in Nebraska’s largest division, held the Cougars to 29% shooting, and Chris Allen scored 21 points to lead the Tigers to a 66-53 victory in front of about 1,300 in a nonleague game at Fremont, Neb.

It marked the third consecutive loss for Capistrano Valley, which will play in the first Nebraska Holiday Prep Classic in Lincoln, Neb., Monday through Thursday. The Cougars lost their last two games in the Great Florida Shootout before Saturday’s loss.

“If we don’t play better than we did tonight, we’re going to be sitting around Lincoln with nothing to do the rest of the week,” Thornton said.

Fremont’s inside game was too much for the Cougars. Allen, a 6-foot-6 forward, was six for seven from the field, and center Shawn Meier added 12 points. Despite Capistrano Valley’s poor first-half shooting (34%), Fremont led by only two, 35-33, at halftime.

But the Tigers scored the first nine points of the second half, including five by Allen. The Cougars fought back to tie the game, 46-46, early in the fourth quarter on Todd Thornton’s three-point basket, but Fremont answered with a 16-2 run to take control of the game.

Thornton led the Cougars with 18 points, and Ted Blinn added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Corey Kost, who was named to the all-tournament team at the Great Florida Shootout, was held to two points Saturday before fouling out.

“We were not able to get into our offense at all,” Coach Thornton said. “We weren’t very intense, and that was obvious.”