This Time, Poway Shots Drop Vista

VISTA — The combination of Poway High School’s tight man-to-man defense and its best shooting output of the season was too much for Vista to compete with a second time.

Senior guard Dave Delaney made 10 of 16 shots and scored 24 points to lead fourth-ranked Poway to an 82-61 boys’ basketball rout of Vista Wednesday night in Palomar League play at Vista.

Poway is only a game behind first-place Torrey Pines, which was upset by Mt. Carmel, 64-63, in overtime.

Vista (11-8, 4-4) had won at Poway, 62-58, when the teams met the first time. In that game, Poway shot only 29%; this time, the percentage was 60.6.

“That’s the best we’ve shot all year that I can recall,” Poway Coach Neville Saner said.

Poway (15-4, 6-2) led Vista, 35-29, at the half. But it tightened its defense and shifted offensive gears in the second half, when it had a 47-32 advantage.

“We have to shoot well to win,” Delaney said. “We always play good defense but our team goes up and down with our shooting.”

Delaney, a 6-2 senior guard, was pesky on defense and not afraid to launch the three-point shot. He scored seven points in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, vaulting Poway from an 11-point lead to 67-51.

His performance was just a reward for extra work.

Unlike a lot of high school players, who go home after practice each day, Delaney goes over to teammate Ty Nichols’ house and keeps shooting.

“After practice, Ty and I throw up a couple 100 (shots) every day,” Delaney said. “Mostly three-pointers.”

Against Vista, Delaney made two three-pointers and Nichols (who had 11 points) made three.