Torrey Turns Back the Clock: A Holiday Classic Tip-Off Night Recap

On a night that saw three previous Open Division champions fall at The Holiday Classic Tip-Off Night, a fourth registered a big upset in one of the best games of the year.

Torrey Pines, which came in needing a signature performance, got one in dramatic fashion, taking down No. 1 ranked Francis Parker 73-70 on a buzzer-beating triple by 2027 guard Jaylan Virgil in the final game of the four-game showcase.

Virgil, a talented transfer from Laguna Creek, CA, has had an uneven start to his Falcons career, but had perhaps his most complete performance of the season, scoring 18 points, including the final three points of the game, a side-step 23-footer off the right wing that handed the Lancers their first loss to a San Diego opponent.

The Lancers controlled the game for most of the first half, leading by as many as 9 points before the Falcons - behind some inspired play by senior wing Tevaris Green, assumed control of the game in the fourth quarter, taking a 62-51 lead with 6:26 remaining.

But Francis Parker responded with an extended 17-8 run to cut the lead to 70-68 before sophomore guard Columbus Palmer was fouled on a driving layup attempt, making both free throws with under 30 seconds to go.

The Lancers were led by 2026 G Ezekiel Walker, who scored a game-high 26 points -- 16 in the first quarter. A solid contingent of colleges in attendance to watch the late-blooming sharpshooter, including Columbia, UC San Diego, Dartmouth and New Mexico.

The Lancers star junior guard Tavid Johnson finished with 15 points, getting going in the fourth quarter to lead the comeback.

Green finished with 20 to lead Torrey Pines, which also got 18 from junior wing Tyler Humphrey and 10 points from senior forward Chase Rogowski.

In earlier games:

Game 3: Santa Fe Christian 83, Cathedral Catholic 61

A season after his older brother Jake Hall scored 43 points in his final Tip-Off Night against La Jolla Country Day, younger brother Dax Hall erupted for 42 points in tight-game-turned-blowout against Cathedral Catholic.

Hall fueled the Eagles' two key runs that each changed the tenor of the game -- a 15-0 run between the first and second quarters that turned a 4-point deficit into an 11-point lead, and a remarkable 22-0 run to end the game after the Dons had drawn to within 2 with 5:28 remaining.

Caden Doucette, an underrated 5-11 senior guard, hit three 3-point field goals during the stretch and junior guard Chase Othick scored 6 of his 12 during the decisive run.

Max Meza and Sei'Mir Roberson scored 21 and 16, respectively, to lead the Dons.

Game 2: Victory Christian 68, Mission Bay 61

The Knights jumped out to a 39-15 lead in the first half and were able to hold off a late rally by the Buccaneers. Jayden Gray, a 6-0 senior, set the tone scoring 11 of his 13 points in the first five minutes as Victory took a 23-11 lead after the first quarter.

Isaiah Owens, a 6-2 senior swingman and the younger cousin of the Carter-Hollinger brothers (DJ, Derrion and Derrius), led the Knights with 20 points. Senior guard DJ Humphries, fresh off of his offer to CSU San Marcos, added 17 and 6-1 sophomore Troy Tominna added 10.

The Bucs woke up in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 7 multiple times, but couldn't get over the hump. Senior guard Jocori Bartlett let the team with 13 points, as four Bucs - senior Travis Hasley, sophomore Lucky Davis and freshman Romeo Flores - scored in double figures.

Game 1: Olympian 82, Carlsbad 77

Senior sharpshooter Matthew Huertas exploded for the Eagles, knocking down nine 3-pointers en route to a game-high 27 points, as the Eagles outlasted the Lancers in a shootout.

Carlsbad led the game early by as many as 9 points before Huertas and fellow guards JJ Walker and Tristan Anderson took over, pushing ahead by 14 points in the fourth quarter before holding off a furious late rally by the Lancers.

Walker (22 points) and Anderson (19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) were dominant for a sustained stretch between the second and fourth quarter, offsetting a solid performance from Carlsbad senior quartet Trenton Mehl (24 points), Dylan Sims (17 points), Briggs Young (15 points) and Jayden Garner (14 points).