Pacific Ridge beats El Capitan to continue undefeated start – elcajon newson Elcajon News only

CARLSBAD — After a six-win season and with 10 seniors lost to graduation, the outlook was dim at best.

“But we have three really good sophomore guards and a big man,” Pacfiic Ridge School boys basketball coach Chris Burman said, “so I thought we might have something.”

What Burman has is an undefeated team.

The Firebirds beat El Capitan 52-22 Thursday in the first round of the eight-team Firebird Classic at Pacific Ridge, improving to 12-0 this season.

“We only had three returnees, but we got a couple of transfers, really had a good summer, so I kind of felt we might have something,” said Pacific Ridge sophomore guard Gavin Fletcher.

“Last year, we had one guy who played club ball. This season, we have three. And the guys who don’t play club (basketball); (they) play at the park just to get better. There is much more chemistry on this team. This team is super committed. And we play with a ton of energy.”

The energy and chemistry show. The Firebirds play great defense with quick hands. They pass the ball well and are excellent on the boards.

Thursday, Pacific Ridge’s defense forced 27 El Capitan turnovers — 11 in the first quarter alone. Pacific Ridge led 23-2 in the first quarter.

The Firebirds outrebounded El Capitan 33-22.

Pacific Ridge sophomore Alex Besio led all scorers with 13 points; nine came on a trio of first-quarter 3-pointers. Fletcher added 11 points, eight coming in the first quarter. Max Leong, a 6-foot-8 senior, had nine points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Jed McDonald had four points and seven rebounds. Lucas Rubino finished with seven points.

Trevin Curo led El Capitan (3-11) with eight points; he also grabbed 13 rebounds.

Leong said the seeds of Pacific Ridge’s success were planted over the summer, when they played 28 games together.

“We played together, ate together,” he said. “And the coaches were really committed.”

Leong said Pacific Ridge is “a very academic-oriented school.”

Balancing school, academics and music has become second nature to Leong. A talented musician, Leong started in classical music before choosing jazz piano. He is part of a jazz ensemble.

“I find music very rewarding, but it’s not something I plan to pursue in college,” he said. “I’ll still play, look for a group to play with. But I won’t major in music.”

For now, the Firebirds are majoring in victories.

A CIF San Diego Section Division 5 team, Pacific Ridge plays in the Sunset League alongside Classical Academy, Escondido Adventist Academy, Guajome Park Academy and Classical Academy. Classical is favored to win the league.

“We don’t want to put a lid on anything,” Leong said. “We don’t want to look too far ahead. But if we stay healthy, keep playing the way we’re play, who knows what could happen?”