Cypress 63, Del Norte 53 - Torrey Pines Holiday Classic

Cypress guard King Birdsong (11) tries

to zip a pass inside in the opening

minutes of the Holiday Classic's

first game, a 63-53 defeat

of Del Norte Thursday morning,

Dec. 26. (Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Down 8-0 in the first three minutes, and 18-5 to Cypress (Orange County) at the end of the first quarter, Del Norte fought back to close within 10 points of the Cents, 63-53, in the opening game of the 38th Holiday Basketball Classic at Torrey Pines High School Thursday morning, Dec. 26.

Honestly, Coach Chris Johnson's team was never in the game, but the Nighthawks' fight after a long (and cold) three-quarter struggle was admirable. The local team wasn't going to allow themselves to register a blowout in this so-public hoops showcase.

The Nighthawks were still trailing 52-30 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Guard Ethan Rahmant, a senior, said the battle to come back was kindled by "energy--teammates giving each other energy". Quiet, head bowed after a post-game team meeting, the 5'11" backcourt reserve couldn't explain Del Norte's agonizingly slow start.

He acknowledged it, but said the late-game rally's strategy was "pressing, hopefully (resulting in) turnovers".

In the second game of their own Holiday Classic, Coach John Olive's host Falcons poured it on in the second half to win 58-35 over Spanish Springs (Nevada), after leading only 19-17 at halftime.

Torrey Pines guard Zander Ovies (white jersey)

scrambles on the floor for the ball with Spanish

Springs (Nevada)'s Trevor Landreth

in opening moments. The Falcons

pulled away in the second half

to win 58-35 in the second game

of the annual tourney.