Sunny Hills kept Capistrano Valley close for three quarters in the second round CIF contest, but a decisive final quarter performance from the Cougars, led by junior Dawson Baker, proved too much for Lancers to overcome. The Lancers fell 56-39.

Sunny Hills jumped out to a quick four point lead in the opening minutes of the game behind a basket each from Seniors Sam Barrera and Ryan Shaw.

The early four-point lead would end up being the Lancers (18-13) largest of the night.

Sunny Hills had trouble keeping the ball early and often which prevented them from extending their lead.

The Coyotes (22-6) capitalized on constant turnovers that stopped them from falling behind by more and tied the game at 8 apiece in the final minutes of the quarter.

A 3-pointer by Shaw close to the end of the quarter was enough to put the Lancers up by one going into the second quarter.

The quarter ending lead would be the Lancers last of the night.

Behind Baker, the Coyotes began to take control of the CIF playoff matchup.

Baker scored the Coyotes first five points of the quarter,including a 3-pointer, to spark a 9-4 run that put them up by four in the final minutes of the half.

Sunny Hills cut down on the turnovers but had offensive troubles throughout the quarter.

In a quarter where they only managed to score six points the Lancers could not convert once from 3-point range despite multiple efforts.

Despite struggling to score from the paint at times in the quarter, the Coyotes went into the half up by eight.

Going into the second half the Lancers were looking to improve offensively and not let the game get away.

Senior John Paek provided the offensive spark the Lancers needed to stay close.

Down by 10 and midway through the quarter, the senior scored scored four straight unanswered points to help fuel an 9-3 run that brought the Lancers within three of the Coyotes.

Sunny Hills would not come closer to catching Capistrano Valley.

Two free throws and a late quarter basket by Baker, a constant offensive presence throughout the game, put the Coyotes up by seven going into the fourth quarter.

Having to make a late comeback was not a new experience for the Lancers, but the Coyotes were set on pulling away.

Powered by two 3-pointers from senior guard Michael Callaghan and four more points from Baker, Capistrano Valley went on a game deciding 10-1 run to start the fourth quarter.

As the game entered its final four minutes the Lancers attempted to make it close again.

Shaw scored the Lancers last seven points, but could not bring them closer than down by 15 partly due to 3-pointers they desperately needed not falling, and Baker continuing his big night.

The Junior guard had eight points in the final quarter and 27 in the game.

“Guys were tired, defenders were so their was more space, and we spaced out the floor better, so [it] gave me more opportunities to drive, I think that was the key” Baker said about the fourth quarter.

“We did finally get to the hole a little bit easier late, and we got some really key offensive rebounds,” said Coyotes Head Coach Brian Mulligan about the difference between the teams in the final quarter.

“[early on] we were able to do what we wanted to do, and then we let it get away from us a little bit,” Said Lancers Head Coach Joe Ok, who also said that the team “ran out of gas,” when speaking about the final result.

Capistrano Valley will face either Dos Pueblos or Saugus in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 2-A playoffs.