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San Clemente boys basketball holds off Trabuco Hills to stay unbeaten in league

January 23, 2024

Sam Meza-Tallada (3) of Trabuco Hills powers past the defense of Christian Fernandez (15) of San Clemente as he drives for the basket in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Will Whidden (23) of San Clemente defends against Arshia Amini (23) of Trabuco Hills in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chase Tolliver (32) of San Clemente shoots over Arshia Amini (23) of Trabuco Hills for a 3-pointer in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Christian Fernandez (15) of San Clemente moves in for the layup against Cooper Overman (11), left, and Colin Duckens (4) of Trabuco Hills in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Will Whidden (23) of San Clemente shoots over Arshia Amini (23) of Trabuco Hills in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sam Meza-Tallada (3) of Trabuco Hills scores against defenders Broderick Redden (2) and Christian Fernandez (15) of San Clemente and in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Davis Blake (13) of San Clemente shoots a 3-pointer against Trabuco Hills in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Matt Mowers (5) of Trabuco Hills attempts a layup past the defense of Will Whidden (23) of San Clemente in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Matt Mowers (5) and Sam Meza-Tallada (3) of Trabuco Hills attempt to block the shot by Porter Hansen (14) of San Clemente in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jack Loper (0), left, and Will Whidden (23) of San Clemente attempt to block the shot by Matt Mowers (5) of Trabuco Hills in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chase Tolliver (32) of San Clemente scores a layup against Matt Mowers (5) of Trabuco Hills in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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SAN CLEMENTE — A year ago, San Clemente’s boys basketball team had its worst season since 2006 and went winless in the South Coast League.

It’s a much different story this season.

The Tritons outlasted Trabuco Hills 45-41 Monday to improve its South Coast League record to 4-0.

San Clemente, which is 19-5 overall and ranked No. 22 in Orange County, has beaten every other team in the league and has four league games remaining.

“We were very young last year and the South Coast League is always a slugfest,” San Clemente second-year coach Landon Pluimer said. “Our guys worked really hard in the offseason. They hit the weights hard and got extra shots up. It’s a great start but we are only halfway there.”

San Clemente led by 10 points in the third quarter, but Trabuco Hills (17-7, 2-2) rallied back and tied the game midway through the fourth quarter.

The Tritons led by three with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game.

Trabuco Hills center Matt Mowers got an offensive rebound and passed it to Sam Meza-Tallada, who was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer.

Meza-Tallada made one of the three free throws and Porter Hansen made a pair of free throws on the other end to seal the game for San Clemente.

“It was a tough game,” Pluimer said. “They have a lot of threats and are super well-coached. Our guys battled and we just made a few more shots than they did.”

Making shots was a challenge for Trabuco Hills throughout the game, partly due to the San Clemente defense. The Mustangs made just one of 21 3-point attempts and their 41 points are a season low.

“Our goal is to play hard on every possession and finish with a box out,” Pluimer said. “They have so many threats to score that it makes it tough, but we did a pretty good job tonight.”

San Clemente was led on both ends of the floor by Chase Tolliver, who had 15 points and 17 rebounds. The junior had 22 rebounds last week in a win against Capistrano Valley.

“He’s one of our strongest guys and he just goes after it,” Pluimer said of Tolliver. “He’s not that tall but he finds ways to get in there. Those extra possessions he gave us got us a few more shots so those were huge.”

Will Whidden had 13 points with seven rebounds for the Tritons.

Kai Van Olst had two big rebounds late in the game for the Tritons and Christian Fernandez made a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Meza-Tallada led Trabuco Hills with 19 points and two steals on defense. Mowers had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Mustangs.

San Clemente will host San Juan Hills on Wednesday. San Juan Hills is in second place in the league standings and lost to San Clemente 61-54 on Jan. 10.

Trabuco Hills will host Capistrano Valley Friday. The Mustangs beat Capo Valley 57-36 on Jan. 12.

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