Elsinore’s Dynamic Duo Undo Murrieta Valley 69-62

Butler battles Padlo for rebound

Shackleford drives the lane

Chamberlain skies

On campus of one of the oldest high schools in Southern California.

 The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks (8-1) appeared on their way to their second victory in as many games against the Elsinore Tigers (8-2) in a re-match of last week’s Night Hawk Tournament final. Murrieta Valley had the game well in hand with a 13-point lead early in the 2^nd half of Tuesday night’s non-league matchup when Elsinore’s back-court combination of EJ Twyman and Lawrence Chamberlain struck.  The senior co-captains sparked an 11-0 run by the Tigers late in the 4^th quarter that propelled Elsinore to a 69-62 victory over previously undefeated Murrieta Valley in front of a noisy home-court crowd.

Murrieta Valley got off to a quick start behind senior guard Reid Shackleford (27 points) who hit a pair of 3-point baskets and senior forward Darius Butler who made 3 of 4 shots in the first quarter. Elsinore answered with 3-point shots by Twyman and Chamberlain but Shackleford hit from long range again to finish with 11 points in the first quarter and a 21-10 first quarter lead for the Nighthawks. The teams traded baskets in the 2^nd quarter as Shackleford continued to get away from Elsinore defenders for easy baskets on his way to 21 points in the first half. Twyman and Chamberlain kept the Tigers close with 7-points each and the Tigers went into the halftime intermission trailing 37-26.

The Night Hawks extended that advantage on the first play of the 2^nd half when Shackleford found Darius Butler (20 points, 4 rebounds) on a back-door pass behind the Tigers defense for an easy lay-up. But the Tigers had the answer this time as Chamberlain buried a 3-pointer and sophomore guard Kevin Padlo applied the hammer-lock to Reid Shackleford all but shutting the senior down and forcing two errant shots. Chamberlain and Twyman continued to lead the Tigers’ comeback as each scored a basket to cut the advantage to four points at 49-45. Mitchell Leinart (6 points) hit a desperation 3-point shot for Murrieta Valley as time expired in the third quarter to push the lead back to 52-45 going into the final period.

Unfortunately for Murrieta Valley, with a 54-48 lead Darius Butler picked up his 4^th personal foul forcing the Night Hawks leading scorer to the bench. With their crowd behind them Lawrence Chamberlain (17 points) scored on a jump shot from the wing before EJ Twyman scored the next 7-points for Elsinore on a dribble-drive, and two pull-up jump shots. Junior guard Allen Stubbs picked off a Night Hawk pass at mid-court and drove to the basket for a lay-up and when it was done the Tigers had outscored the Night Hawks 11-0 to take a 59-54 lead they would never relinquish.  Reid Shackleford finally shook free for an NBA-range 3-point shot to make it 62-59 for Elsinore but that was as close as Murrieta Valley would get. EJ Twyman completed a sensational all-around game by converting four free throws in the game’s closing minute to finish with 24 points as the Tigers outscored the Night Hawks 24-10 in the 4^th quarter.

Up next for Murrieta Valley will be a team from my old neighborhood as the Night Hawks will take on the Flintridge Prep Rebels in the Torrey Pines Tournament. Elsinore will head to the beautiful mountains surrounding Lake Arrowhead to participate in the Rim of the World Basketball Tournament.

Rich Sharp