ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : Santa Ana Tournament : Mission Viejo Wins at Long Range : Herdman, Matthews Combine for 42 to Rout Mustangs

If there were a three-point shot in the Santa Ana Tournament, it would not have mattered where it was placed on the court for the Mission Viejo High School basketball team.

Any distance inside 25 feet would have done, as the Diablos’ Jeff Herdman and Todd Matthews were deadly from outside in leading undefeated Mission Viejo to a 67-48 rout of Trabuco Hills in the championship game at Santa Ana High School.

Mission Viejo (4-0) lives and dies by its outside shooting, and Friday night it was living right. Herdman, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored 22 points and Matthews added 20.

The pair began launching long-range shots over the Trabuco Hills zone midway in the first quarter and didn’t let up until the outcome was well decided.

Even a mild cold streak in the second quarter did little to deter the pair from scoring from nearly any position on the court.

“If they’re giving us the outside shot, then I give them the green light,” Mission Viejo Coach Bob Minier said.

Even by allowing Herdman and Matthews free rein, the Diablos still trailed most of the first half and had to stage a late run to take a 33-27 lead at halftime, 27 of their points coming from the two shooters.

As insistent as Herman and Matthews were on shooting at will, their defense helped spark a decisive run to open the second half. Trabuco Hills committed several turnovers, and Mission Viejo responded with a three-point play by Matthews and a layup by Herdman.

A tip-in by Dave Hall and a steal by guard Vince Merk that led to a layup by Tom Lujan helped increase a 33-29 lead to 42-29.

“We have always had one of the best half-court defenses of anybody,” Minier said. “We like to try to mix it up and make things happen.”

Despite a fine effort from forward John Welch (22 points), Trabuco Hills (7-1) could not match the quick pace set by Mission Viejo.

Six-foot 7-inch center Gordon McNeill was held to 10 points for Trabuco Hills.

Buena Park 60, Saddleback 52--Kevin Grady scored 19 points and Gary Hunter added 15 to lead the Coyotes (3-2) to a come-from-behind win and third place in the tournament.

Gylan Dottin had 16 points and brother Malru Dottin scored 15 for the Roadrunners (1-3).

Westminster 60, Santa Ana 54--Center Chris Tower scored 25 points as the Lions (3-3) beat the Saints (3-2) for the consolation championship. Tom Dever added 13 for Westminster, and guard Willie Lane led the Santa Ana with 22.