ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : Freeway League : Troy Routs Sunny Hills in Game of Fouls, Fight

Although Troy High School easily defeated Sunny Hills, 79-46, Friday night in a Freeway League game in the Warriors’ Gym, there was no lack of action even after the outcome was all but decided.

Sunny Hills trailed 24-4 after the first quarter, as Mark Rudometkin made a 60-foot shot at the buzzer. The lead quickly grew to 27-4 and Troy was not threatened the rest of the game. Troy led 39-19 at halftime.

Despite the score, the second half was action-packed.

First, the start of the half was delayed for more than 45 minutes as a Sunny Hills cheerleader dislocated her knee after attempting a back flip.

Once play resumed, four technical fouls were called, one player was ejected and a fistfight broke out that cleared both benches.

“One official was good and the other one was a little weak,” Troy Coach Ed Graham said. “But in a game like this, it can get out of control.”

Things started falling apart in the fourth quarter with Sunny Hills trailing by 34 points (75-41).

A technical fouled was called on Sunny Hills forward Brendon Hickman for hanging on the rim. The call incensed guard Jeff White, who was also called for a technical foul. White’s father, Sunny Hills coach Steve White was also called for a technical foul on the play.

On the ensuing possession, Jeff White and Troy’s Jim Bridges struggled for the ball and the players fell to the ground swinging at each other.

Both teams rushed onto the court and Bridges was later ejected.

The officials then huddled for nearly 10 minutes before deciding that Sunny Hills would shoot two technical foul shots as well as two regular foul shots, as a foul also was called on Bridges.

The fouls and fighting didn’t detract from Troy’s play as the Warriors had one of their best defensive games of the season.

“We spent two hours in practice on nothing but defense,” Graham said. “This was our best start we’ve had all year.”

Fullerton 60, Buena Park 55--Mike Hetland and Pete Bach scored 13 each as the Indians finished the regular league season at 9-1, and advance to next week’s postseason tournament as the No. 1 seeded team. Alan Lewis had 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Indians (13-6).

Kevin Graddy scored 15 points, Gary Hunter 14 and Mike Toscano 11 for Buena Park (4-6, 10-11).

Sonora 63, La Habra 61--Guard Grayle Humphrey scored 11 of his 12 points in the first quarter as the Raiders got off to a fast start and then held on. Teammate David Morris had 13 of his 18 points in the third quarter before leaving the game with a bruised instep. Humphrey also had 11 assists and 11 rebounds.