Century League : Foothill Shoots Down Santa Ana in Opener

Foothill High School shot 60% in the second half to break open a close game and earn a 62-53 win over Santa Ana Wednesday night in the Century League opener for both in the Knights’ gym.

Santa Ana, the defending league champion, appeared to tire in the second half after playing tenacious, man-to-man defense in the opening half that frustrated good-shooting Foothill. The Knights are favored to dethrone Santa Ana, but they discovered that winning the league title won’t be easy.

The lead changed eight times in the first half. Then, Foothill slowly pulled away in the third quarter. Greg Gore’s jump shot with 2:05 left in third period gave the Knights a 42-37 lead, and Santa Ana could never catch up.

Foothill used a four-corner offense in the fourth quarter and extended its lead to nine points when reserve Stacy Parker scored on a layup with 1:43 left. Ken Briggs’ three-point play with 31 seconds remaining sealed the Knights’ 10th win in 13 games.

The Knights made 15 of 25 shots in the pivotal second half, and Santa Ana made 13 of 27.

“I’m encouraged despite the loss,” Saint Coach Greg Coombs said. “We got a little tired in the second half but we stayed with them in their gym for most of the game. It definitely was a homecourt win for them. We didn’t get a single break tonight.”

Santa Ana (5-6) played the first half without its best player, Roger Flores, who was benched for disciplinary reasons. Flores scored 16 points in the second half, making 8 of 11 field goal attempts.

As usual, Foothill’s five starters contributed, but Coach Jim Reames got some unexpected help from his sixth, seventh and eighth players when the starters got into early foul trouble.

Gar Myers led the Knights with 18 points, scoring 12 in the second half when he made 6 of 7 shots. Jud Dutrisac added 15 points and Gore had 10.

SANTA ANA (53)--Stewart 10, Smith 4, Flores 16, Bailey 5, Turner 12, Tellez 4, Rettburg 2.

FOOTHILL (62)--Myers 18, Dutrisac 15, Gore 10, Laird 8, Briggs 3, Parker 4, Gazzaniga 2, Clark 2.

In other Century League action:

Santa Ana Valley 71, Villa Park 69 (2 OT)--Alonzo Jamison, a 6-foot 5-inch junior center, hit two free throws with 25 seconds left and Eugene Alls made a jump shot with eight seconds remaining to help the Falcons win at Villa Park.

The Spartans rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half to tie the score, 59-59, at the end of regulation.

The teams traded baskets, then Matt Koob, a 6-1 senior guard who scored 28 points in the second half, made two free throws to tie the game, 63-63, with six seconds remaining in the first overtime.

SANTA ANA VALLEY (71)--Whitlock 6, Nelson 9, Jamison 30, Alls 16, Ross 7, Hickman 3.

VILLA PARK (69)--Ayers 6, Default 10, Jacobs 6, Koob 33, Christensen 7, Steensland 7.

El Modena 48, Tustin 33--Ryan Rycraw scored a game-high 13 points for El Modena (7-3). Tustin (5-7) never got closer than 11 points in the second half.

EL MODENA (48)--Moss 12, Rycraw 13, McDuffie 3, Matlock 2, Defeo 4, Baytosh 2, Hamlin 8, Rodriguez 4.

TUSTIN (33)--Piazza 6, Kovac 4, Anderson 12, Lay 4, O’Brien 2, Duff 5.

Orange 64, Canyon 49--Eric Hendy, a 6-foot 6-inch center, scored 21 points and 6-5 forward Dave Roth added 19 points as the Panthers opened league with a win at Canyon. Chris Rippe and Dave Spencer led Canyon with 14 points each.

ORANGE (64)--McIntire 8, Miller 2, Peet 4, McCoy 10 Roth 19 Hendry 21.

CANYON (49)--Rippe 14, Spencer 14, Lopez 8, Stine 5, Phillips 2, Ream 4, Garcia 2.