SANTA ANA, CA - Game eight of the Nike Extravaganza between Westchester-Los Angeles and Capistrano Valley-Mission Viejo was tied at 62 with 16.1 seconds left. Westchester took a three-pointer for the win, but missed. As the ball rattled off the rim, with under one second left, senior guard Zellie Hudson sprinted toward the paint and tipped it in to win the game for Westchester.
"My teammates were really excited for me and I’m just happy we got the victory,” said Hudson, who scored 13 points in the win.
With less than one minute left, Daniel Ramsey put Capo up 60-59 with a huge field goal, and Dawson Baker scored one possession later. Ramsey finished the game with 12 points and Baker added 19.
Unfortunately for Capo, a Westchester three tied the game, leading to Hudson’s game-winning basket moments later. Nik Lipovic scored 16 of Capo’s 28 first half points, nailing four three-pointers in the process. Westchester made key adjustments at the half, limiting Lipovic to just two points throughout the third and fourth quarters.
Westchester led by four at the half, behind 12 points from Jordan Brinson. Nick Draper (nine points) led a third quarter surge for Capo, starting with a three to pull the Cougars within two points. Leading 36-35 inside of five minutes remaining for the quarter, Westchester turned the ball over, and Baker capitalized on the other end to give Capo one of the game’s 18 lead changes.
Three plays later, after two Brinson (22 points) free throws, Baker scored again from the inside. A Westchester miss led to a Grayson Beeman layup, but Brinson answered back with a made two of his own on the next play. Jeremiah Turley (four points) missed a three and Baker hit a jumper moments after. Westchester fouled Ramsey in the final seconds of the quarter, and two made free throws later, the Cougars found themselves up 46-42 heading into the fourth.
Leading 21-13 after one, Westchester opened second quarter scoring with a Hudson coast-to-coast layup. Lipovic responded with a three, but Westchester fired back scoring another easy two points. Lipovic nailed his second three in a row, and senior guard Ethan White scored his only basket of the game off a Baker dime. Westchester missed a three to end the half.
Despite the loss, Capo is 21-6 and undefeated in league. The Cougars host San Juan Hills before playing at Trabuco Hills to end the regular season. Westchester is 8-1 in league and improved to 23-5 overall.
