Boys’ Basketball : Cao Makes Big Plays to Lead Bolsa Grande

Nam Cao made the big plays in the second half Thursday night to lead Bolsa Grande High School to a 63-59 upset victory over Santa Ana in the semifinals of the Santa Ana Elks Tournament.

Cao, a 5-foot 7-inch junior, made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining and then added a layup 12 seconds later to clinch the victory. He also made three long jump shots in the third quarter to help the Matadors beat the taller Saints.

Cao started slowly but finished with 25 points. He made 8 of 12 field goal attempts and all nine of his free throws to move the Matadors (3-1) into the championship game tonight against Mission Viejo.

“I’ve been telling everybody what a player he is for a year now,” said Tony Lipold, Bolsa Grande coach. “He’s a tough kid for his size who we look to in all the pressure situations.”

Santa Ana looked like a winner after point guard Scooti Lynwood made a free throw with 3:34 left for a 56-52 lead. But Cao tied the score, 56-56, and then forward Joe Small scored on a turnaround jump shot for a 58-57 lead with 1:23 remaining.

“We needed this victory for the school,” Lipold said. “We got down, but we did a good job of hanging in there. I’m elated to be playing in the championship game of a prestigious tournament with so many good teams entered.”

The Saints (1-1) were hoping to play Mission Viejo twice this week. Santa Ana’s football team meets the Diablos on Saturday night for the Southern Conference football title. When the Saints opened a 24-14 lead early in the second quarter, it appeared the doubleheader was a possibility.

But Cao made three straight baskets in the second quarter, and Bolsa Grande moved to within one point, 36-35, at halftime. Sophomore center Bobby Joyce paced Santa Ana with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

BOLSA GRANDE (63)--Afdahl 4, Small 11, Brown 5, Nguyen 14, Cao 25, Teschler 4.

SANTA ANA (59)--Lane 8, Stewart 13, Joyce 20, Bailey 9, Lynwood 5, Tuioti 2, Leon 2.

In other Santa Ana Tournament action:

Mission Viejo 61, Saddleback 60--The Diablos won their third straight game as reserve guard Jeff Billups made four free throws in the final 1:23.

Saddleback led for most of the game, but Mission Viejo rallied behind guard Todd Mathews, who made two consecutive three-point plays in the third quarter to help the Diablos take a 45-38 lead.

But the Roadrunners rallied to tie the score, 49-49, behind the play of Bryant Walton and Gylan Dottin. Dottin led all scorers with 27 points, and Mathews finished with 25 points for Mission Viejo.

MISSION VIEJO (61)--Pedersen 3, Herdman 5, Knowles 16, Mathews 25, Billups 10, Barrett 2.

SADDLEBACK (60)--Walton 18, Hanson 9, Dottin 27, Alonzo 6.