Century League : El Modena Gets Revenge by Beating Foothill, 54-48

The hypothesis that the length of a basketball team’s hair is inversely related to its success took another blow Wednesday night when Foothill High School played El Modena.

All the Knights, except renegade Gar Myers, shaved their heads a couple weeks ago. Since then, they have lost three games, and their only victory came against lowly Tustin. So much for the myth of winning bald.

Rumor has it that the Foothill athletic department is already taking bids on a dozen toupees.

However, another prevailing Century League basketball theory--that of the home-court advantage--held true again Wednesday night as El Modena reversed its recent fortunes against the Knights with a 54-48 win.

El Modena has not lost a game in its gym this season.

The last time these rivals played, Foothill enjoyed the benefits of hair, the home court, and an eventual 32-point victory. Foothill said “hoop,” and the Vanguards came to play as if they expected the hula-version.

This game was more crucial, at least for El Modena. Coach Bill Ervin said the Vanguards could not realistically hope to make the playoffs unless they beat the Knights to move into a third-place tie. Both teams are now 7-4 with three league games left to play.

The Vanguards wanted to take a commanding early lead Wednesday to re-establish their confidence, and you can believe they looked quite self-assured with a 24-10 first-quarter lead.

In fact, the entire first half, which ended with El Modena in front, 34-27, was something of a duel between El Modena guard Ryan Rycraw and Foothill guard Jud Dutrisac. Each had 12 points after making four baskets and four free throws.

It became clear in the first half that rebounding would be the difference between the teams. Foothill Coach Jim Reames inserted his only sizable player, David Gazzaniga, into the line-up after the first quarter. But for the Knights, Gazzaniga was not enough to give the area immediately around the basket that lived-in look.

Rycraw, a phenomenal leaper, along with Vanguard big men Colin Moss and Vincent McDuffie, helped El Modena to a 30-12 edge in rebounds against the shorter Knights.

FOOTHILL (48)--Dutrisac 17, Gore 9, Gazzaniga 2, Laird 6, Briggs 4, Parker 2, Myers 8.

EL MODENA (54)--Moss 11, Rycraw 18, McDuffie 9, Defeo 6, Hamlin 10.

In other Century League action:

Orange 73, Villa Park 66 (OT)--The Panthers outscored the Spartans, 13-6, in the overtime for the win at Villa Park. Eric Hendry led Orange (10-1 and 16-6) with 18 points, while teammates Dave Roth and Sean McCoy added 14 and 13, respectively.

ORANGE (73)--Hendry 18, Roth 14, McCoy 13, Peet 16, Bertrand 8, Holmen 4.

VILLA PARK (66)--Ayres 10, Dufault 18, Hertel 1, Jacobs 9, Koob 27, Steensland 1.

Santa Ana Valley 62, Canyon 46--The Falcons (6-5, 7-11) took their biggest lead of the game early in the fourth quarter at 50-33. But the Falcons missed their free throws while the Comanches (4-7) scored 10-straight points to move to within seven, 50-43 with 3:30 to go. Santa Ana Valley, the league’s fourth-place team, held on despite making only 2 of 11 free throws. Michael Whitlock led Santa Ana Valley with 20 points while Steve Lopez led Canyon with 14.

CANYON (46)--Rippe 7, Spencer 2, Lopez 14, James 2, Ream 2, Mury 5, Garcia 4, Phillips 4, Salcedo 6.

SANTA ANA VALLEY (62)--Whitlock 20, Hickman 2, Jamison 12, Alls 16, Ross 7, Alvarez 4, Shipp 1.

Santa Ana 62, Tustin 41--Junior forward Eric Turner scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds to lead the Saints. Center Roger Flores added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Santa Ana (9-2).

TUSTIN (41)--Galler 12, Piazza 4, Lay 1, Anderson 9, Kovac 6, Duff 5, O’Brien 2, Moise 2.

SANTA ANA (62)--Tellez 4, Stewart 10, Bailey 8, Turner 21, Flores 17, Cruz 2.