Boys’ Roundup : Katella Rallies for Semifinal Win, 53-52

It took two turnovers, a missed free throw and a conference by the referees for Katella High School to overcome a five-point deficit with 53 seconds to play, but the Knights did just that and defeated Long Beach Millikan, 53-52, in the semifinals of the Katella basketball tournament Saturday night.

Junior guard John Suni made a 10-foot jump shoot with three seconds left to put a cap on an impressive Katella comeback that look impossible 50 seconds earlier. Millikan guard Ken Jarvis scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Rams to a 52-47 lead with 50 seconds left.

But Katella forward Bob Erbst scored two baskets, one after a Ram turnover, and the other after a missed free throw, to bring the Knights within one point at 52-51. Millikan turned the ball over a second time on an out-of-bounds call with seven seconds remaining.

After Katella inbounded to Ebrst, he was stripped of the ball, but neither refree was willing to point in the direction the ball belonged. After a brief conference, Katella was awarded the ball.

Sunu then made the game-winning shot.

Katella advances to the championship game Monday night at 8 against Servite. Prior to that game, Millikan will play Santa Ana for third place.

MILLIKAN (52)--Williams 19, Carswell 6 Jarvis 16, Holmes 5, Marshall 6.

KATELLA (53)--Sunu 8, Anderson 5, Lucus 14, Erbst 22, Stierstorfer 4.

In other Katella Tournament action:

Servite 55, Santa Ana 54--Servite’s James Rollins was fouled as he made a layup with 1:13 remaining. Rollins converted the free throw to put Servite (5-4) ahead of Santa Ana (6-4), 55-52. SANTA ANA (54)--Lynwood 2, Stewart 10, Turner 17, Bailey 8, Joyce 15, Lane 2.

SERVITE (55)--Coady 13, Smalley 11, Sullivan 9, Rollins 13, Arabia 2, Humaciu 5.

Western 46, Centennial 45--The Pioneers jumped out to a big lead and then hung on to win and advance to today’s consolation finals, where they will meet Rolling Hills.

WESTERN (46)--Joseph 17, Lott 12, Powell 9, Sanchez 6, Hansen 2.

CENTENNIAL (45)--Thomas 17, Lewis 4, Haywood 4, Allen 16, Williams 2, Gray 2.

Rolling Hills 67, Rancho Alamitos 64--Junior guard Mike Perett scored 14 points to get the Titans into the consolation finals.

ROLLING HILLS (67)--Gehr 12, Batt 8, Rudberg 6, Terry 11, Warren 12, Perett 14, Talley 3, Thomas 1.

RANCHO ALAMITOS (64)--Morales 21, Carter 18, Velasquez 2, Paquette 18, Flores 3, Blasko 2.

In the Atascadero tourney:

Garden Grove 56, Santa Maria 42--The Argonauts (8-3) won the consolation championship as forward Mark Kiefer scored 26 points. GARDEN GROVE (56)--Contreras 7, Kanagae 11, Kiefer 26, Finch 2, Fournier 10.

SANTA MARIA (42)--Miller 26, Krause 2, Rieke 2, Rosbia 5, Vea 7.

In the Canyon Tournament:

Bolsa Grande 78, Esperanza 56--Nam Cao, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored 20 points to lead the Matadors to the championship.

BOLSA GRANDE (78)--Brown 8, Cao 20, Afdahl 11, Nguyen 17, Small 7, Treschler 11, Comstant 2, Arnold 2.

ESPERANZA (56)--Burks 5, Gammalo 4, Harvey 12, Mike Vincent 8, Branstetter 22, Kietzke 3, Mitch Vincent 2.

Los Amigos 68, Canyon JV 46--Center Phillip Garcia led the Lobos to the consolation championship with 13 points.

CANYON JV (46)--Perez 6, James 9, Bawahab 11, Zugel 8, Brown 3, Siow 3, Miller 4, Boyer 2.

LOS AMIGOS (68)--Howard 8, Allimarano 8, Skipps 9, Garcia 13, McGee 8, M. Hyatt 8, Davis 9, Mackey 3, D. Hyatt 2.

Villa Park 61, Canyon 60--Villa Park took third place as center Steve Barnett scored a game-high 17 points.

VILLA PARK (61)--Bray 7, Burton 11, Tanner 6, Sipe 10, Stork 5, Creagon 5, Barnett 17.

CANYON (60)--Ream 4, Jones 2, Garcia 11, Mury 7, Williams 12, Frye 14, Pavlish 2, Simpson 8.

In Capital Tournament action:

Hugg 67, Newport Harbor 64--Newport Harbor couldn’t overcome a slow start in the championship game at Carson City, Nev.

NEWPORT HARBOR (64)--Lee 8, Richards 8, Craig 8, Alstrom 24, Torell 12, Young 4.

HUGG (67)--Thigpen 10, Hill 20, Corley 10, Dillin 12, Jones 8, Cobb 2.