Boys’ basketball: Anaheim Canyon wins Division III-AA
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Chris Nelson finished with 19 points to help Anaheim Canyon win the Southern Section Division III-AA championship Saturday with a 52-48 victory over Santa Margarita at the Honda Center.
Canyon (25-6) held a 13-point halftime lead, but Santa Margarita (21-9) went on a 10-1 run to start the third quarter, only to have the Comanches come back to regain a comfortable cushion.
Then the Eagles made a final comeback attempt with less than two minutes left. Pat Moran’s three-pointer with 1:11 left pulled Santa Margarita to within 49-46. Nelson converted two free throws with 32.2 seconds left for a 51-46 lead.
Daniel Munoz made two free throws with 19 seconds left, cutting Santa Margarita’s deficit to 51-48. Then Braden Priest converted one of two free throws for a 52-48 Canyon lead with 17.5 seconds left.
Jessee Hazely had 15 points and Munoz added 14 for Santa Margarita.
-- Eric Sondheimer