San Lorenzo Valley High junior Blake Bechtel sank five 3-pointers and scored 39 points as he led the Cougars to the consolation championship over Watsonville, 74-53, in the 54th annual Dad’s Club Tournament.
The three-day tournament was Dec. 10 through 12 at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz.
Bechtel sank his first three shots of the game and finished 8-for-12 from the field, 8-for-10 from the free-throw line and 5-for-8 from behind the arc to help the Cougars to the early-season victory.
“He caught fire,” head coach Matt Meisner said.
The Cougars lost their first game of the tournament to Harbor High on Dec. 10, 75-50, before trouncing Scotts Valley the next day, 60-38, and then beating Watsonville on Saturday.
The Cougars’ fifth-place tournament finish was their highest in recent years, Meisner said.
Bechtel was named to the all-tournament team, and the Cougar fans received the spirit award for the tournament.
The Falcons-Cougars tilt was the first of three scheduled meetings between valley rivals SLV and Scotts Valley. Against the Falcons, Cougars point guard Ryan Morse took charge, scoring 18 points, including 12 in the second half, to pace the team.
“My coach has been telling me to drive a lot more,” Morse said. “The drive definitely opens up things.”
Aldin Barrett led the Falcons with nine points.
Scotts Valley High finished the tournament 1-2, with a 53-50 victory over Soquel in the final game after losses to Santa Cruz, 88-47, and SLV.
In their next game after the tournament, forward Blake Jurich scored 35 points, but the Falcons fell to Santa Clara High, 63-55, on Monday, Dec. 14. Scotts Valley is 3-5.
