Cavers advance to semis of MaxPreps Holiday Classic with 71-59 win

San Diego center Jeremy Tyler throws down a dunk in the third quarter. Tyler finished with 39 in the Cavers' 12-point win over West Valley.

Although currently the top team in the section, San Diego is considered by most a one-man gang, led by junior Jeremy Tyler. The Cavers showed Saturday night that isn’t the case, beating West Valley 71-59 in a team effort in the quarterfinals of the MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines High School.

“I think we played very very well,” said San Diego head coach Kenny Roy. “I was extremely happy with the way my guys stepped up.”

Tyler finished with 39 points to lead all scorers, displaying his versatile game. The junior forward committed to Louisville hit long-range shots, short fallaway jumpers and had a handful of monster dunks.

“Jeremy had an enormous game,” Roy said.

Two other Cavers finished in double figures. Senior Jourdan Ward and junior Martin Thomas each chipped in 10 points.

“Tonight was totally better than last night – playing in front of our crowd, letting everybody know that all the players can play on this team,” Tyler said.

The Cavers jumped out to an eight-point lead in the second quarter only to see it cut to one at the half. During the break, Roy assured his team that they did not have to worry about losing the slim lead.

“I talked to them at halftime,” Roy said. “I said we got to be smart, we got to be patient, we’re not losing – we’re the ones that are winning the game at this particular time.”

Roy’s halftime speech worked, as the Cavers came out fast in the third quarter and never looked back, leading by no less than nine for a majority of the half. San Diego (5-1) will meet Eisenhower in the tournament semifinals on Monday.

“Coach said we’re ranked No. 1 in the county,” Tyler said. “We have to practice like No. 1, we have to think like No. 1, and it will show on the court.”