Canyon boys basketball beats Norte Vista with barrage of 3-pointers

LA HABRA — The Canyon boys basketball team made 14 3-pointers and had four players score in double figures in a 77-63 victory over Norte Vista in a pool-play game of the North Orange County Championships on Wednesday at Sonora High School.

The Comanches (5-2), who are ranked No. 9 in Orange County, are 2-0 in the tournament and will play Heritage Christian in a semifinal on Friday.

Canyon did an excellent job distributing the ball and finding open players on the perimeter, accounting for the double-digit scoring by multiple players and the high number of 3-pointers, Comanches coach Nate Harrison said.

The Comanches’ 3-point shots were often uncontested.

“That’s kind of been the way it’s been all year,” Harrison said. “We’re shooting over 40 percent from the 3-point line as a team for the year. We’ve got a lot of guys that can score. We’re pretty hard to guard. We’re really unselfish. We’re just going to play the best shot. Nobody’s trying to do too much. Everybody’s trying to play for each other.”

Senior Rami Awad, one of the Comanches’ top returners, led all players with 22 points, including three 3-pointers.

Sophomore Jonah Kim scored 10 points and led the team with four 3-pointers.

Freshman Dean Dohrmann, who is Canyon’s leading scorer for the season, finished with 17 points, including three 3-pointers.

“That’s something we drill and practice every day, something we do at shoot-around, and just something we want to do to win,” said Dohrmann, on the Comanches’ stellar passing and outside shooting. “It’s cool scoring, but I’m just happy we got the win, and whatever I can do to help my team, I’m going to do it.”

Canyon center Pierce Haugen had seven rebounds and 10 assists, most of which involved kicking the ball out to an open shooter.

Both teams came out fast in the first quarter and slowed the pace in the second quarter, with neither team able to go on a long run.

Bryan Ramirez hit a two-pointer and 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to give the Braves (4-4) a 47-42 lead in the third quarter.

Canyon came right back with consecutive 3-pointers from Kim, Haugen and Dohrmann to take a four-point lead.

The Comanches led by seven points after three quarters and opened the fourth with an 11-5 run. Nine of the 11 points came 3-pointers from Mohammed El Baba, Kim and Dohrmann.

Haugen’s basket and free throw put the Comanches up by 15, essentially putting the game out of reach with under four minutes remaining.

Hugo Morales led the Braves with 17 points, but fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“We just needed to put a couple stops together,” Harrison said. “Credit to my assistant coaches. They had a good game plan.”