Boys Basketball: JSerra 57, Santa Margarita 54

Johnnie Vassar scored 26 points and JSerra outscored Santa Margarita Catholic by three in the fourth quarter to post a 57-54 Trinity League victory Friday.

Vassar has averaged 19.6 points per game, but he was even more prolific against the Eagles as JSerra (11-6 overall, 2-2 in league) won its second in a row after losing to Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco. 

JSerra is ranked No. 7 in the Orange County Top 10, and Santa Margarita is 10th.

Sjur Berg led Santa Margarita with 20 points—he was six of six from the field and eight of eight from the free-throw line—and Devonte Klines added 10. 

It was a particularly tough night for Santa Margarita's leading scorer on the season, Joe Furstinger, who fouled out with seven points, about half his average. Furstinger got off only five field goal attempts before his exit in the final minute, and managed only three rebounds.

A turnover on an inbounds play in the final seconds sealed the Eagles' defeat.

Santa Margarita, which committed 17 turnovers, held a 29-25 halftime lead, but entered the fourth quarter tied at 41-41. It snapped a two-game winning streak.

Brett Oosdyke added nine points for Santa Margarita, and Haitham Chehabi added 11 for JSerra.

Santa Margarita plays at home Saturday against Palos Verdes in a nonleague contest, and against St. John Bosco on Friday in another Trinity League game.