Calvary Chapel Impresses San Diego Horizon, 63-33

Calvary Chapel girls’ basketball Coach Russ McClurg saw it coming.

McClurg scouted potential Southern California Regional opponents last week at the San Diego Section championships. His first-hand look at San Diego Horizon gave the Eagles the opportunity to prepare for Tuesday’s first-round Division IV game at Calvary Chapel.

And they prepared well.

The result was a 63-33 victory for Calvary Chapel, which took advantage of an inexperienced Horizon team with a relentless full-court trapping defense.

“We didn’t go in blind,” McClurg said. “After seeing them play, we thought [Horizon] was a team we could really bother with the press.”

Calvary Chapel did more than bother the Panthers (17-12), the runner-up in San Diego Section Division IV. The Eagles’ press forced three turnovers in the first minute of the game, setting up a quick 7-0 lead.

With less than three minutes gone in the first quarter, Calvary Chapel held a 12-2 lead after Cathy Joens’ second three-pointer. Horizon had five turnovers at that point, and it got worse.

The Eagles (26-5), the Southern Section Division IV-A champions and seeded No. 1 in the regional, led, 20-2, after the first quarter and increased the margin to 30-4 midway through the second. Horizon committed 15 turnovers in the first half and shot only four of 26 from the field, resulting in a 34-8 halftime lead for Calvary Chapel.

Horizon Coach Alan Nakamura didn’t need a scouting report to know his team was overmatched.

“We’re young, we’re on the road and they’re the No. 1 seed . . . that makes it tough enough,” Nakamura said. “And they did a really nice job with their press.”

Joens led Calvary Chapel with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

In the semifinals Thursday, the Eagles will host Morro Bay, which defeated Corcoran, 58-47.