Prep Basketball : Southern Section 4-A Playoffs Roundup : Dana Hills Breaks Early to Defeat Orange, 68-58

Going into the first-round 4-A playoff game, Dana Hills High school was concerned about playing Orange in the “Dome.” This cozy facility--built in the early ‘50s--has caused many a visiting team to succumb to the vocal Panther faithful.

But Friday night the Dolphins eliminated the Dome and Orange from further action this year, as they defeated the Panthers, 68-58.

The Dolphins (18-5) took the capacity crowd of over 1,000 out of the game early as they streaked to an 8-0 lead, three minutes into the game. Orange (18-8) managed just three field goals the entire first quarter, as it missed its first six shots.

Orange’s shooting never did warm up--besides Dave Roth and Tom Peet, who both had 16 points--as the Panthers found themselves down, 27-12, with six minutes left in the first half. The Panthers shot just 30% (6 for 20) in the half and went into the locker room trailing, 35-20.

With just over 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, Orange made a run at Dana Hills to slice the lead to 41-30. Dolphin guard Adam Mathieu then made a break-away drive to the basket, but before he could get the shot off he was hammered by Panther Mark Holman.

Tempers erupted and a pushing match spilled over close to the stands. A near riot was averted when two Orange policemen stepped on the floor. Mathieu hit both free throws, and, with the ball being awarded to the Dolphins on a technical foul called against Eric Hendry, they scored two more on an Eddie Esteban lay up.

With just under two minutes to play, Orange cut the lead to 62-54 on a pair of Peet free throws, but Dana Hills playmaker Will Jeffers, who finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds, sank four free throws down the stretch to clinch the win for the Dolphins.

Forward Bryan McSweeney led all scorers with 18 points.

In other 4-A action:

Newport Harbor 84, San Gorgonio 62--Chuck McGavran scored 24 points and Rob Mase added 22 to lead the host Sailors to the opening-round playoff victory.

Alan Fraser also contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Sea View League Champions improved their record to 23-3.

San Gorgonio, which finished 18-8, was led by guard Rodney Moten’s 27 points and Victor Wright’s 14.

The Vikings led briefly at the start of the contest, but the Sailors quickly pulled ahead. Newport Harbor forced a turnover off the full-court press, and a basket by Mase, who also had eight rebounds, gave Newport Harbor a 16-9 advantage.

Fraser’s basket at the end of the first quarter gave the Sailors a 22-11 lead.

Newport Harbor was ahead at halftime, 37-25, and outscored the Vikings, 13-6, in the third quarter to take a commanding 19-point lead midway through the stanza. The Sailors led, 58-39, after three quarters and coasted the rest of the way. Newport Harbor, which had a sizable height advantage, also got a nine-rebound performance from Dean Sorensen.

North Riverside 77, El Modena 51--The Huskies outscored the Vanguards, 30-10, in the second quarter and won easily at Riverside.

Guard Robbie Washington of North led all scorers with 26 points, and forward Enoch Simmons added 22 as the the Huskies used their fast-break offense with great success against El Modena. Colin Moss led El Modena with 14 and Ryan Rycraw added 12.