Vecchione Gets Revenge as Sonora Beats Servite

Ah, what sweet revenge for Greg Vecchione.

The Sonora point guard attended Servite as a freshman, but, in his words, “things didn’t work out, so I came here.”

Tuesday, things worked out better than Vecchione could have dreamed as the Raiders defeated the Friars, 61-47, in a Division II-A boys’ basketball playoff game in front of approximately 2,000 at Cypress College.

Vecchione made all seven shots he attempted from the field, including three three-pointers, and his 18 points led the way for the Raiders.

“The game of my career, my life,” Vecchione said. “I waited four years for this.”

The Raiders (24-4) will play the Compton Dominguez onFriday. Servite finished 21-7.

Sonora Coach Mike Murphy was in awe of Vecchione’s performance.

“I just kept shaking my head,” Murphy said. “When he made his first trey I said to the bench, ‘What’s that his third of the year?’ Then he made another. He was great tonight.”

From the opening tipoff, it was obvious Servite was tight.

The Friars had five turnovers in the first quarter, 13 by the half and 20 in all. And Sonora’s quickness negated Servite’s height advantage by clogging the passing lanes and shutting off the Friars’ inside attack of Steve Shea (five points) and Rafael Zielonka (11).

The Raiders limited the Friars to 37 shots and they made only 43%. The Raiders were 22 of 43.

Sonora’s Jeff Berokoff had 14 points and Marqui Worthy scored 13.

Matt Anderson (seven points) contributed a couple of key baskets late in the game.

Even with the nervous start, Servite only trailed 17-13 after one quarter.

But Sonora expanded it to 31-23 by halftime, and never let the Friars get any closer than four in the second half.