BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

Division I

Poway 62, Vista 60--Mitch Palmer rebounded teammate Kyle Milling’s missed attempt and tipped in a shot at the buzzer to save top-seeded Poway from being upset by fifth-seeded Vista. The Panthers thought time had elapsed when Palmer got the shot off in time, but the Titans victory at Mira Mesa was secured.

Poway came back from an eight-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, and the lead changed hands four times in the waning minutes. But with 23 seconds to play, Todd Fortney hit two free throws to give Poway the 60-58 lead. Vista’s Jason Barnes tied the game with a layup with eight seconds to play. Poway (23-8) then got the ball to Milling before Palmer, who was three of five from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, became the Titans’ hero.

Poway opened the game with four fouls in the first minute of play. Vista (16-11) outrebounded Poway, 43-23. Barnes finished with a game-high 21 points. Milling had 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Rancho Bernardo 54, Mt. Carmel 49--Second-year school Rancho Bernardo reached the section finals for the first time by adding third-seeded Mt. Carmel (18-10) to its hit list at Serra. The unseeded Broncos (18-10), the third-place team in the Avocado League, beat No. 2 Morse earlier in the tournament.

The Broncos’ final 10 points were from the free-throw line over the final 3:40, and six came in the final 34 seconds. But the game was won earlier with Rancho Bernardo’s hustle.

“I was very impressed with our offensive tenacity,” RB Coach Chris Carter said. “We weren’t afraid, we weren’t reluctant. When you hesitate, that’s when things go awry.”

Mt. Carmel held a huge height advantage with four players over 6 feet 6, but the tenacity that Carter mentioned balanced the deficit. RB outrebounded the Sundevils, 33-30, led by Kirk Hipple’s 16 and David Santos’s 10.

Hipple (6-6) and Santos (6-4) also played important roles in RB’s balanced offense, scoring 13 and 14, respectively. Greg Hanson and Bill McMahon scored 11 each.

“Everything that had to happen for them to win happened,” Mt. Carmel Coach John Marincovich said, “and they did a lot to do with that.”

Mt. Carmel shot only 36% (19 of 15), missing a number from in close; Rancho Bernardo shot 41% (16 of 39).

Rancho Bernardo led 41-34 entering the fourth quarter, but Mt. Carmel tied it at 46 on Chris Goode’s putback of a missed free throw.

Mike Ruff’s free throws with 34 seconds left gave RB a 50-48 lead; Goode made it 50-49 with a free throw 10 seconds later. Then Rancho Bernardo got the bounces, rebounding missed free throws despite the height disparity and getting fouled to earn another trip to the line. Santos finally converted two free throws with 17 seconds left, and Hipple two more with 10 seconds to go.

“Almost everyone on our team couldn’t make the teams at Poway and Mt. Carmel,” Hipple said. “We wanted to prove how good a team is, not individuals.”