Schools
Murrieta Valley Wins Nighthawk Classic in Final Moments
The Nighthawks came from behind with eight seconds left in the game.
The Murrieta Valley High Nighthawks Saturday snatched a victory from the jaws of the Elsinore High Tigers in the final eight seconds of the Nighthawk Classic Tournament.
The Nighthawks came from behind -- extending their undefeated record to 8-0 and reaching a score of 62-60 to bring home the championship trophy.
After Elsinore took a commanding 54-46 lead with a little more than six minutes left in the game, the Hawks came clawing back.
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Murrieta Valley finally took its first lead in the fourth quarter with just under two minutes remaining on a Darius Butler layup and foul that garnered three points.
With eight seconds remaining, Butler scored the last of his 21 points after rebounding a missed Elsinore shot and taking it in for the game winning layup.
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Elsinore’s Daniel Dedeaux scored 12 points for the Tigers while teammate EJ Twyman lit up the Nighthawk defense and led all scorers with 37 points.
Butler scored 21 ponts and was named the Nighthawk Classic Tournament MVP.
Jackson Helms added 11 points and Reid Shackleford scored 17.
Murrieta Valley's well-balanced offense and gritty defense was just enough to stop the second place Tigers.
E Roosevelt finished third in the tournament with a victory over Canyon Springs in the consolation round.
