PREP BASKETBALL : Orange League : Valencia Beats Western to Secure Playoff Spot

Valencia High School (6-3, 14-8) clinched third place in the Orange League and the last available playoff berth with a 58-50 victory over Western Wednesday at Anaheim.

The game represented Western’s last chance of the season of making the playoffs. The Pioneers (4-5, 9-14) last postseason appearance in the past 19 years came in 1978.

Western’s main problem has to do with the square shape of the majority of its personnel, many of whom are multi-purpose athletes. Five of its top six players are members of the football team, and even disguised in hightops and basketball jerseys, they look best suited to the turf.

Both teams shot so accurately in the first half Wednesday that the difference in team speed and endurance was not initially apparent. In fact, after Tiger Chris Rojo’s opening fast break, Western commanded the rest of the first half. John La Morte scored 11 points and Troy Joseph scored 10 to help the Pioneers engineer leads of up to seven points.

If basketball was always played as the Tigers and Colonists played it in the first half Wednesday, rebounding could become a superfluous pursuit.

Valencia shot 66% from the floor (14 of 21). Western shot 64% (14 of 22). During one dazzling streak in the second quarter, the teams combined to make 12 straight shots, a string ending with Tiger Mark Hood’s air ball.

But Valencia snuck up on Western at the close of the first half, trailing by just one point, 31-30. The Tigers continued the offensive ambush into the third quarter, scoring the first four baskets to move ahead, 38-31.

Apart from Rojo’s patented running lay ups, most of Valencia’s shots were of the low-risk, high-yield, close-proximity variety. The Pioneers concentrated on 6-6 Tiger center Geoff Adams--who was limited to six points--but meanwhile, forward Kevin Jones took over the inside game for a total of 15 points.

With a 38-34 advantage, the Tigers stalled away the last four minutes of the third quarter, and it was then that the Pioneers’ more moderate speed proved detrimental. Western was unable to get control of the ball, and wound up scoring just three points.

Valencia allowed the Pioneers no opportunity for a fourth-quarter comeback, as the Tigers maintained their lead with excellent free throw shooting. The Tigers shot 80% at the foul line (12 of 15), while the Pioneers only got six free throw opportunities during the game, making four of the shots.

VALENCIA (58)--Nakawaki 6, Jones, 15, Adams 6, Rojo 14, Jensen 6, LaRue 2, Hood 9.

WESTERN (50)--La Morte 13, Burris 8, Joseph 14, Chase 9, Cate 2, Allen 2, Hernandez 2.

Brea-Olinda 93, Magnolia 52--All 10 players on the first-place Wildcat team (9-0, 21-4) scored as Brea accumulated a season-high point total while tying a school record for consecutive wins with 12. The Wildcats’ 6-9 center, Kevin Walker, led the barrage of points with 26, and 6-5 forward David Fox had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Wildcat guard Eric Jones had 10 assists. Magnolia (0-9) was led by Dan Underwood’s 13 points along with 11 by Steve Gonzalez.

MAGNOLIA (52)--Ryan 9, Gorrien 4, Underwood 13, Banuelos 8, Osuna 4, Gonzales 11, Shaffer 3.

BREA (93)--Jones 2, Frances 7, Malloy 9, Jensen 10, Ouellette 4, Barcelo 7, Fox 18, Hartshorne 2, Walker 26, Tousey 8.

Savanna 74, Anaheim 45--The Colonists (1-8, 3-17) cut Savanna’s 19-point lead to 12 in the third quarter at Savanna, but a string of 9 free throws by Rebel Tim Pittman repelled the challenge. The Rebels (7-2, 18-7) shot 81% at the foul line as Pittman and Trevor Hoffman made a combined 19 of 21. Pittman led all players with 25 points and 18 rebounds. Anaheim’s top scorers were John Van Aflen with 14 and Steve Mispagel with 11.

ANAHEIM (45)--Mispagel 11, Van Aflen 14, Amador 8, Giftlinck 2, Robuffo 4, Trigg 3, Parchedo 3.

SAVANNA (74)--Pittman 25, Veale 8, Hoffman 16, Campbell 14, Makimoto 5, Lopez 2, Kjeldgaard 4.