The Indian Springs bench celebrates after a game tying three pointer, late in the fourth quarter against Santa Clara, during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Malik Goulet,(#3), shoots over Santa Clara’s Christian Oliver, (#10), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Robert Rosado,(#32), drives to the basket past Santa Clara’s Christian Oliver,(#10), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Robert Rosado,(#32), fouls Santa Clara’s Christian Oliver,(#10), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Malik Goulet,(#3), shoots over Santa Clara’s Ivan Barocio, (#55), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Chris Jones,(#1), drives to the basket and is fouled by Santa Clara’s Felix Ramos,(#3), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Joshua Jones,(#5), scores a basket against Santa Clara during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Chris Jones,(#1), drives to the basket against Santa Clara’s Nick Abbott,(#13), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
The Indian Springs bench celebrates after a game tying three pointer, late in the fourth quarter against Santa Clara, during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Chris Jones,(#1), shoots over Santa Clara’s Christian Oliver,(#10), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
Indian Springs’ Tyler Culpepper,(#2), shoots over Santa Clara’s Felix Ramos,(#3), during Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 5AA playoffs game at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, Ca., February 14, 2019. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)
SAN BERNARDINO – The fast and talented Indian Springs High basketball team gave Oxnard Santa Clara a scare, but in the end the Saints prevailed 73-64 in overtime Thursday night.
The loss in the CIF-Southern Section Division 5AA quarterfinals ended the Coyotes’ season. But the setback did not come without a fight.
“It was a terrific season,” said Indian Springs’ junior guard Tyler Culpepper, who scored 23 points. “We made history.”
Down 22-12 after the first quarter, during which Santa Clara had four dunks, Indian Springs (13-15) appeared to be in deep trouble. The Coyotes are not big, but they are whippet-quick and eventually the speed of players like Culpepper and brothers Chris Jones (17 points) and Joshua Jones (13 points) started paying dividends.
Led by Chris Jones (seven points in the quarter) and Culpepper (six points) Indian Springs scrambled to within 37-27 at halftime to set up a dramatic second half.
Early in the third quarter, Santa Clara’s Ivan Barocio picked up his fourth foul and his absence seemed to hinder the Saints (25-6).
Down 39-30 with 5:47 left in the third, Indian Springs went on an 11-0 run to briefly take a 41-39 lead with 3:45 left in the third period, and the game was close until the end of regulation which ended tied 57-57.
Chris Mack scored on a lay-in, though, to start overtime and the Saints dominated the extra period to ease away for the victory.
“We had to slow the tempo and stop making so many turnovers,” Santa Clara junior 6-10 center Christian Oliver (21 points) said. “They (the Coyotes) were a good team and they played hard and they were quick.”
Mack had 15 points, Barocio had 14 for Santa Clara and Felix Ramos and Nick Abbott had 10 apiece.
