Eli Elhawary scored 31 points to lead Temple City
By Tim Peterson
(Temple City) – Ali Elhawary scored 31 points including 16 in the third quarter to lead Temple City to a 72-61 win over Franklin Friday night in the SGV Classic Basketball Tournament.
Elhawary didn’t score a point in the first quarter but tossed in 10 in the second and then exploded in the third as the Rams broke it open. He hit four threes in the quarter and three straight to close out the period as Temple City jumped out to a 15 point lead at 57-42. He was seven of nine in the third scoring 16 of the Rams’ 22.
Temple City raced out of the gate to a 9-0 lead but by the time the first quarter ended it was Franklin who had the advantage after going on a 16-2 run to go up 16-11. TC got back on track in the second as Tyler Api and Elwahary teamed up as the Rams outscored Franklin 24-15 in the quarter to give Temple City a 35-31 halftime margin. Api had eight points in the second including a three.
Franklin tried to make a run in the fourth behind guard Tyler Alfelor but was never able to get within striking distance.
***Api finished with 21 as he and Elhawary combined for 52 of Temple City’s 72.
***Temple City’s Rich Hollinger threw down a jam early in the fourth quarter that sent a buzz through the crowd as well as the Rams’ bench. Hollinger had nine points on the night.
***The Rams lost the lead in the first quarter before regaining it 32-31 late in the second. They never trailed again.
***Alfelor led the Franklin scoring attack with 27. He had nine points in the first quarter and four threes on the night.
***Alvin Basco and Jesse Solano each had 10 for Franklin.
***Temple City hit nine three point shots while Franklin nailed seven.
***TC had the edge in free throws 14-12.
***TC: 11 24 22 15 F: 16 15 11 19
***Temple City improved to 7-4 on the year while Franklin fell to 1-7.
***The SGV Championship game is Tuesday night at Monrovia High School.
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