HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Camarillo Claws Back to Win, 77-71

Camarillo High won the Ventura tournament in 1983, but getting past the first round of late has been a struggle for the Scorpions.

Last year, Camarillo was upset by lowly Oxnard in the first round and Wednesday night, in another first-round game at Ventura High, tiny Nordhoff took the Scorpions to the limit before succumbing to center Fred Tepesano’s three-point shots.

Camarillo came from behind to win, 77-71.

Nordhoff (6-4), coming off a tournament championship at Fillmore last week, had opened a 60-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter and had thoroughly frustrated Camarillo (8-2) until Tepesano found his range.

Tepesano made four three-point shots in the first 4 minutes, 30 seconds of the quarter to pull the Scorpions into a 65-65 tie.

The teams traded baskets for the next two minutes before guard David Harbour’s three-point shot with 2:05 left gave the Scorpions a 72-71 lead they would not relinquish. Camarillo kept the Rangers out of the lane down the stretch, forcing them to take three-point attempts that would not fall.

Tepesano scored a team-high 25 points and Harbour added 24 points and 10 rebounds.

In other first-round games:

Oxnard 63, Channel Islands 59 (3 OTs)--Guard Rubin Bryant scored four of his game-high 16 points in the third overtime period as the Yellowjackets (5-5) outscored the Raiders, 7-3, to pull off a mild upset.

Newbury Park 62, Ventura 50--Center Kevin Loveall scored 14 points and Tim Lane came off the bench to add 14 for Newbury Park (6-3), which will play Oxnard in a quarterfinal game at 8 tonight.

Buena 102, Thousand Oaks 91--Jeff Oliver scored a game-high 36 points and Darren Shearer added 20 to lead the defending tournament-champion Bulldogs (5-4).

Thousand Oaks (4-5) was led by forward Chris Loll with 33 points.