Mustangs grab must-win over Elsinore

By: BECKY FREEMAN - Staff Writer

WILDOMAR ---- Pete Rettinger told his Elsinore boys basketball squad that two things would be required of it once Sunbelt League play started ---- execution and hitting free throws.

The Tigers needed both on Thursday night, with West Valley in town, but came up short in the latter as the Mustangs rallied in the fourth quarter for a 61-56 victory. Elsinore shot 10-of-24 from the line, squandering a game-high 22 points, including six 3-pointers, from Scotty Buck.

"In league, I told the guys, we need to execute and make free throws to win," Rettinger said. "Our execution was good tonight, but we just gotta make free throws ---- especially when we had the lead and a couple one-and-one situations where we didn't get anything."

The Mustangs, who also struggled from the line, hitting 13 of 23 shots, were able to hit their two most important foul shots down the stretch. West Valley guard Mike Pete was fouled on the ground with 20 seconds to play and faced a one-and-one with West Valley leading 57-56. Pete calmly swished both shots and though the Tigers had one last good look ---- a Buck 3-pointer at the top of the key ---- they could not convert allowing the Mustangs to improve to 4-2 in league and 13-5 overall.

"Pete (Rettinger) runs a great program here, so to beat Elsinore at Elsinore is huge," West Valley coach Chuck Peebles said. "We really needed this win."

Pete finished with 14 points for the Mustangs, who were led by Joseph Burton's 18 points and nine rebounds. Kris Brooks added a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds and Eric Lawton contributed another 10 points on the night.

Buck was unstoppable for the Tigers (11-11, 2-4) through the first three quarters ---- hitting 50 percent from the field and going 6-of-11 from beyond the arc.

"I coached at the community college level for 10 years and he shoots as well as anyone I've seen," Peebles said of Buck.

After Buck hit his sixth 3-pointer midway through the third quarter ---- giving the Tigers a 46-42 lead ---- the Mustangs went to a box-and-one defense and Richard Plummer made it his duty to stay right on Buck the rest of the night. The defensive switch worked, as Buck attempted only two more shots, missing both, and the Tigers scored only 10 more points the rest of the game.

"Plummer really took that on as a challenge," Peebles said. "He did a great job."

Elijah Pearson came through when Buck was being targeted, and hit four 3-pointers on the night. His 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:03 left made the score 57-55. Pearson finished with 15 points, while Aaron Davis added 11 points. Keith Lewis led Elsinore with 11 boards.

"I'm happy and proud of my guys, they played hard," said Rettinger, whose team plays 5-0 Perris in its next league stop on Tuesday. "We just have to continue to compete."