San Fernando Too Much for Poly, 89-78

SAN FERNANDO — Poly High figured it faced a big step up in competition from its first basketball game to the second.

The Parrots opened the season last week with a 20-point victory over Bravo, a Magnet Conference school.

Monday afternoon, they faced San Fernando, the third-ranked team in the region and already having played in a tournament. The Tigers delivered a predictable result with an 89-78 victory at San Fernando.

The Tigers (6-0) led by 18 points midway through the second quarter and appeared ready to put the game away before halftime.

But Poly (1-1) persevered behind senior forward Ellis Richardson, who finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds.

The Parrots, expected to be a contender in the Valley Pac-8 Conference, pulled to within 55-49 late in the third quarter before a three-pointer by Bryson Atkins and a basket by Mike Page helped build San Fernando’s lead back to double figures.

“[San Fernando] is a team that’s probably going to go the 3-A [Division] championship [game],” Poly Coach Jay Werner said. “We’d like to have a chance to play them there.”

Poly was shorter and had trouble with the Tigers’ trapping press early, committing 16 first-half turnovers.

San Fernando took command with a 10-0 run to open the second quarter. Tyrone Purnell, a 6-foot-8 center, had four baskets during the run and the Tigers led, 32-14.

Luis De La Rosa scored 27 points and Page added 22 for San Fernando. The contribution from De La Rosa was expected--he was an All-North Valley League selection last season--but Page, a part-time starter last season, has been a surprise.

“He’s probably the most improved player on the team,” San Fernando Coach Mick Cady said. “He worked really hard over the summer and it shows.”

Page, a 6-5 senior forward, kept the Tigers ahead during Poly’s rally, scoring 15 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

“Somebody had to step up because nobody else was,” Page said.

De La Rosa kept the Tigers comfortably ahead in the final minutes, scoring nine of San Fernando’s last 10 points.

Cady was unimpressed with the Tigers’ defensive effort and kept the team in a prolonged meeting after the game.

“It seemed like Poly got every loose ball,” Cady said. “They did a good job of hustling and coming back and I don’t think we responded very well.”

Purnell finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.