Empire League : El Dorado Uses a Tough Defense--Not Offense--to Turn Back Esperanza, 72-58

Following a nine-day layoff, El Dorado High School found itself in a shooting slump Wednesday night in its Empire League game against Esperanza.

The Golden Hawks (12-1) fell behind the Aztecs by five points after five minutes but rebounded for a 72-58 victory to gain its third straight league win.

The Golden Hawks made 2 of 12 shots to open the game and connected on 43% of their shots (31-71) in the game, but more than made up for that with strong rebounding and a tenacious defense that forced 24 turnovers. The loss dropped the Aztecs to 1-2 in league play, 5-6 overall.

El Dorado took 26 more shots than the Aztecs (71 to 45). But while their shooting was off, the Golden Hawks did make 10 of 11 free throw attempts to help gain their seventh straight win.

A box-and-one defense effectively limited El Dorado’s leading scorer, Bart Hakeman, who scored eight points, about 11 less than his average. But 11 Hawk players scored, with center Jim Sammon leading the offense with 17 points.

ESPERANZA (58)--Dragonette 5, Sheets 4, Webb 22, Eaves 10, Ziuraitis 11, Anthony 2, Vincent 2, Harvey 2.

EL DORADO (72)--Hakeman 8, Mansfield 15, Sammon 17, Ramos 8, Cooke 2, Hanna 7, Craph 5, Dahman 2, Walker 2, Green 4, Behle 2.

Katella 50, Loara 35--The host Saxons were cold from the outset, hitting on three of eight field goals in the first quarter. The Knights used a half-court trap to build a 28-20 halftime lead. Loara could not get any closer than within six points in the second half.

KATELLA (50)--Erbst 8, Bennett 14, Yourstone 7, Linker 11, Donnelly 6, Baldwin 2, Dechavez 2.

LOARA (35)--Shinoda 4, Conk 2, Parker 5, Clester 13, Miller 1, Porreca 10.

Kennedy 51, Los Alamitos 44--The Griffins committed 23 turnovers in their loss at Kennedy. Walter Lauderdale led the Irish (3-0, 9-3) with 13 points and 7 rebounds. J.T. Snow paced Los Alamitos (1-2, 4-8) with 15 points.

LOS ALAMITOS (44)--Crandall 9, Irvin 6, Woods 11, Snow 15, Goodman 2, Smith 1.

KENNEDY (51)--Bissell 6, Clark 2, Curry 2, Davidson 2, Faddoul 6, Galante 2, Hinojos 2, Lauderdale 13, Queen 7, Green 9.

Cypress 69, Pacifica 56--The Centurions committed 22 of the 36 fouls at Cypress, yet managed to win.

PACIFICA (56)--Shumway 2, Yano 1, Brodt 26, Shelton 2, Hall 11, Browdowski 2, Tejeda 5, Brown 7.

CYPRESS (69)--Hopkins 12, Civitelli 8, Bausch 8, Cote 10, Krivashei 5, Kalwamura 4, Johnson 19, Vruegdenhil 3.