Greyhound, E.T., Spider, White Chocolate and Tower of Power. They were all on the Parkway Gym playing court Friday evening as the top-seeded Lutheran High School boys basketball team engaged the fourth-seeded Preuss Tritons in a San Diego Section Division V semifinal contest.
They all contributed in the Knights’ 84-41 victory to send the small private school located in the Rancho del Rey community of Chula Vista to next Thursday’s Division V championship game at San Marcos High School.
Lutheran (23-1) will play the third-seeded Palo Verde Valley Yellow Jackets (18-10) in next week’s championship game. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
As for the identities of the aforementioned players? Each wore a white T-shirt with nicknames stenciled on the back in support of the late Andrew Pinuelas, one of the team’s most vocal fans, and father of teammate Tyler Pinuelas, who died in January.
It’s been an emotional last couple of months for the Knight Nation. Lutheran player Orlando Gunn lost his grandmother last month and an aunt last week.
The team has specifically dedicated its season to the memory of the elder Pinuelas. But it’s hard not to play for the others as well.
“He was always there for us,” Knights season scoring leader Mo Al-Asady said in regard to the elder Pinuelas. “He gave us great support. He was always watching our backs.”
Both Tyler Pinuelas and Gunn played in Friday’s game. Each player scored four points in a winning effort.
It’s been the team concept that has helped fuel the Lutheran juggernaut this season, according to head coach Andrew Singleton, a 2005 graduate of Chula Vista High School who is in his second year at the helm of the Knights.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Singleton said. “They all love each other. They don’t care who scores. One player does something; everyone does the same thing. They play together on the same page.”
No one can deny the Knights play a system that works. Lutheran came out with a ferocious defensive press that resulted in a quick 12-0 lead. Though the Tritons (17-8) managed to nibble away at the lead, thanks primarily to long-range shooting, Lutheran had an answer for each Preuss bucket — and more.
The Knights sank seven three-point shots in the game, including four treys by senior Carlos Gonzalez.
The Tritons dropped in four three-pointers, including three by Thomas Tolentino, as the teams combined for 11 treys in the fast-paced, back-and-forth contest.
Lutheran led 30-9 at the end of the first quarter and 49-25 at halftime. The Knights held a commanding 77-37 lead entering the final quarter.
Gonzalez played on fire the whole game, leading victorious Lutheran with 27 points. Al-Asady poured in 19 points while Jordan Brown scored 12 points and James Watts had 10 points. Josh Powers added six points while Christian Dufresne rounded out scoring with two points.
Gonzalez previously attended Brooklyn Collegiate in New York before making the trek west prior to the start of the 2014-15 interscholastic year. He said it’s been a perfect fit for all concerned at Lutheran.
“We have a great team,” Gonzalez said. “They needed a forward/point guard who could carry the ball and score. I filled the spot they needed.”
While the Knights regularly light up the scoreboard, both Al-Asady and Gonzalez said the team’s success starts with defense.
“Defense is the first priority and offense, too,” Gonzalez stressed.
“Defense wins championships,” Al-Asady interjected. “We want to come out strong on defense in the championship game, play hard and focused.”
Tolentino keyed Preuss with 17 points while teammate Adonis Dillahunty dropped in 13 points.
Palo Verde Valley upended second-seeded San Pasqual Academy, 52-37, in Friday’s other semifinal after opening the playoffs with a 72-32 quarterfinal victory against sixth-seeded O’Farrell on Tuesday.
It will be the first meeting of the season between Lutheran and Palo Verde Valley.
Gonzalez is determined to assist the Knights in any way he can. “This is my senior year — I planned on wherever I ended up that I wanted to make an impact,” he said.
Consider that done.
Amazing awaits.
San Diego Section Boys Basketball Playoffs
Friday, Feb. 27
Division I Quarterfinals
(2) Escondido 67, (10) Eastlake 53
(1) Morse 60, (9) Mater Dei Catholic 50
Division III Quarterfinals
(1) El Cajon Valley 68, (8) Montgomery 43
Division IV Quarterfinals
(9) El Capitan 58, (1) Bonita Vista 55?(
4) Hilltop 44, (5) Calipatria 42
(3) Vincent Memorial 78, (6) Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy 54
Note: Hilltop (17-12) advances to Tuesday’s division semifinals against El Capitan (10-9)
Division V Semifinals
(1) Lutheran 84, (4) Preuss 41
Note: Lutheran (23-1) advances to Thursday’s division championship game against Palo Verde Valley (18-10)
Division V Championship Game
(1) Lutheran 77, (3) Palo Verde 73 (OT)
Lutheran scoring Carlos Gonzalez 24 points, Jordan Brown 14 points, James Watts 13 points, Mo Al-Asady 8 pionts, Josh Powers 8 points, Orlando Gunn 7 points. Knights drop in nine three-point field goals – four by Gonazalez. Gonzalez has trey at the buzzer in overtime to win the game.
Note: Lutheran improves to 24-1 on the season.
San Diego Section Boys SoccerPlayoffs
Friday, Feb. 27
Division I Quarterfinals
(7) St. Augustine 4, (2) Otay Ranch 1
Division II Quarterfinals
(4) Mater Dei Catholic 4, (12) Grossmont 1
Note: Mater Dei Catholic (9-5-5) advances to Tuesday’s division semifinals against (1) Bishop’s (13-5-4)
Division III Quarterfinals
(3) Eastlake 1, (11) Mira Mesa 1 (Eastlake wins kicks from the mark, 3-2)
(9) Steele Canyon at (1) San Ysidro
Note: Eastlake (10-6-3) advances to Tuesday’s division semifinals against (2) La Jolla Country Day (16-4-5)
Division IV Quarterfinals
(1) Bonita Vista 2, (9) Serra 0
(2) Montgomery 5, (10) Preuss 0
Note: Bonita Vista (12-6-6) advances to Tuesday’s division semifinals agianst (5) Mission Vista (10-8-5); Montgomery advances to Tuesday’s division semifinals against (3) Holtville
