Fourth-Quarter Run Lifts Agoura, 74-64

VENTURA — First down, Chargers.

The sport was basketball, but the key was a fourth-quarter burst by Agoura High football players Garrett Lepisto and Marcus Helfman.

The duo scored 21 of the Chargers’ 28 fourth-quarter points to spark a 74-64 victory over Highland in pool play of the Ventura tournament Friday.

Calabasas will play Westlake tonight at 8 in the championship game. Agoura and Crespi meet for third place at 6:30.

“I expect that from [Lepisto and Helfman] because they’re my best basketball players,” Agoura Coach Bill Sanchez said. “I’m no psychologist, that’s for sure, but I firmly believe that a football mentality channeled in the right direction will help in any sport.”

With Agoura trailing, 53-52, Helfman and Lepisto scored the next 16 Charger points in a 16-5 run.

Helfman, a tight end who has committed to California, scored nine in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 despite not scoring in the first quarter.

Lepisto, who played cornerback and receiver in football, made three three-point baskets and three free throws in the fourth quarter.

Lepisto, who finished with 18 points, credited a team meeting following a 70-51, first-round loss to Calabasas for the Chargers’ improved play.

“We were all pretty mad,” Lepisto said. “We were like, this isn’t acceptable.”

The first three quarters Friday were marginally acceptable for Agoura (7-3).

Highland led at halftime, 35-31, and, despite nine third-quarter turnovers, still led entering the fourth, 51-46.

But the Bulldogs (3-9) couldn’t withstand eight more turnovers in the final quarter, stumbling against Agoura’s pressure defense.

“Poor decision-making on our part,” Highland Coach Lyn Boop said.

Wendell Bonner led the Bulldogs with 17 points, but scored only five in the second half.

Ventura 70, Westlake 63--The Cougars (2-8) pulled off an upset behind 26 points from Jeff Staniland.

Ventura made 16 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Joey Cuppari scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Westlake (7-4), which cut a 14-point deficit to one, but never took the lead.

Calabasas 72, Buena 60--Hutan Ghoreishi scored 21 points and Spencer Hariton added 20 to put the Coyotes (6-6) in the championship game.

Calabasas led, 61-58, with just under three minutes to play, but the Coyotes scored the next seven points to pull away.

Danny Thomas scored 20 and Ryan Fay added 19 for Buena (3-8).

Jason Miller scored 17 points for Calabasas, which needed a victory to reach the final.

Crespi 60, Santa Clara 56--Jon Bird had 10 points and 10 other players scored for the Celts (5-6), who advanced to tonight’s third-place game.

B.J. Ward scored 23 points for Santa Clara (3-5), which is still without Nick Jones, a Times’ All-Ventura County selection last season as a sophomore.

Jones suffered a broken left foot in the first day of practice.