Stark Spurs Montclair Prep, 78-64

IRVINE — This time Scott Stark didn’t need to wait for the last second.

The senior guard, who has hit three game-winning shots for Montclair Prep the past two seasons, overcame a foul-plagued first half in the Southern Section V-AA boys’ basketball final against Cate to score 12 third-quarter points.

Stark’s effort helped the Mounties turn a two-point halftime lead into a 78-64 victory Friday night at the Bren Center.

The victory gives Montclair Prep, the defending Division V state champion, the only thing it failed to accomplish last season. The Mounties lost to Pasadena Poly in the V-AA section final, 59-53.

Stark, who picked up his third foul midway through the second quarter, was the prime beneficiary of a pressure defense that forced 21 turnovers.

The top-seeded Mounties (26-3) converted the miscues into 31 points, including three consecutive baskets by Stark that gave Montclair Prep a 57-42 lead late in the third quarter.

“I certainly didn’t do very well in the first half,” Stark said. “I knew I had three fouls but I still felt I needed to be aggressive.”

The Mounties were carried in the first half by forward Anwawn Jones and point guard Akil Anderson. Jones scored 10 first-quarter points before the Rams finally resorted to triple-teaming him. He finished with 26.

The collapse on Jones help open up the lane for Anderson, who had 16 first-half points and kept the Mounties going as Cate closed in.

“It was wide open,” Anderson said. “They were surrounding [Jones] and nobody came over. I just took it to the hole.”

Despite Anderson’s efforts, the Mounties led only 37-35 at halftime. Cate, which rotated 10 seniors, was able to break the press and create opportunities for Olu Evans, who finished with 19 points, including three three-pointers.

Third-seeded Cate (19-4), in its first Southern Section title game, shot 57.7% in the first half.

“There was a little bit of yelling at halftime,” Montclair Prep Coach Howard Abrams said. “Then we played three minutes of good basketball.”

Anderson made two free throws and Stark converted a three-point play after being fouled on a drive to the basket, bumping the lead to 42-35 early in the second half.

Six-foot-eight center Brandon Bruce answered with a basket for the Rams, but the Mounties went on a 7-0 run.

The Mounties were still able to stop the Rams even after Anderson and Jones picked up their third fouls late in the third quarter. Cate shot 34.5% in the second half.

Cate was able to slow Jones until the fourth quarter, when he scored 11. Anderson had 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.