SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO >> The Santa Margarita boys basketball team continued its perfect season with a 51-42 win over JSerra in a Trinity League game Wednesday at JSerra High.
The Eagles (12-0, 1-0), ranked No. 5 in Orange County, had not played since beating Murrieta Valley on Dec. 22 but showed little rust, leading the entire way after the first quarter. They had missed the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic last week due to COVID-19 protocols.
Santa Margarita players cheer their team on late in the fourth period against JSerra in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita Jake Heberle, right, puts up a shot over JSerra guard Everett Bryson, left, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita Connor Cleek, left, and Santa Margarita Tristen Lockwood, center, fight for control of the ball in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JSerra guard Aidan Fowler, right, puts up a shot over Santa Margarita Jake Heberle, left, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Cameron Mercadel, left, is boxed in by JSerra guard Aidan Fowler, right, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita Kyle Evans, right, grabs the rebound in front of JSerra guard Sergio Maggette, left, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Cameron Mercadel, center, keeps the ball away from JSerra guard Aidan Fowler, left, under the basket in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Cameron Mercadel, right, loses control of the ball as he tries to get past JSerra forward Dane Persek, left, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita Jake Heberle, right, passes the ball away as he is pressured by JSerra forward Dane Persek, left, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JSerra forward Dane Persek, left, tips the ball away from Santa Margarita forward Rockwell Reynolds under the basket in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita coach Justin Williams-Bell keeps an eye on his team as they play JSerra in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Cameron Mercadel, left, looks to put up a shot around Santa Margarita Jake Heberle, right, in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita Kyle Evans, right, reaches up to pull down a rebound against JSerra in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson yells out instructions to his team during the game against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita forward Rockwell Reynolds, right, almost loses control of the ball as JSerra forward Dane Persek, left, puts on the pressure in a Trinity League game in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Jake Heberle led Santa Margarita with 16 points, and the Eagles’ two big men, 6-foot-9 junior Rockwell Reynolds and 6-9 senior Kyle Evans, did an excellent job in the paint. Reynolds had 13 points and six rebounds, and Evans had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
“We are fortunate that we have a good group of big guys and they have done a good job,” Santa Margarita coach Justin Williams-Bell said. “The biggest thing is I have a group of guys who has bought into the team. Nobody cares who is doing what, they just go and play hard.”
The game was the Trinity League opener for both teams. After weeks of playing in tournaments, Wiilliams-Bell emphasized that there was more energy Wednesday due to the stakes of a league game and a bigger crowd.
“I think the guys really enjoyed it and had fun,” he said. “We haven’t had this atmosphere in awhile. For them, this is what high school basketball is all about.”
The pace of the game was slow in the first half and both teams drained the shot clock before getting a good look at the basket. Santa Margarita’s defense really held strong in the second quarter, holding JSerra (8-4, 0-1) scoreless for five minutes and allowing just six points in the frame.
Connor Cleek had two steals for the Eagles in the second quarter and the team forced five turnovers.
Both teams scored 10 points in the third quarter and the Eagles had a 33-30 lead entering the fourth.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Robert Diaz and Sergio Maggette for JSerra made it a one-possession game with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Diaz had a team-high 14 points for the Lions.
Heberle responded with a 3-pointer and Reynolds and Evans each had tip-in baskets to increase the lead late in the game.
“Our guys battled. They (JSerra) are well-coached and have really good players,” Williams-Bell said. “It came down to execution like all hard-fought Trinity League games do.”
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Santa Margarita is next scheduled to host No. 1 Mater Dei on Wednesday, Jan.12.
JSerra, ranked No. 11 in the county, has lost three of its last four games. The Lions had not played prior to Wednesday since Dec. 21 due to COVID-19 protocols. The Lions are scheduled to host St. John Bosco in a Trinity League game Friday.
