Orange League Roundup : Savanna Gets Past Valencia

Robbie Rivera of Savanna High School scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half to lead the Rebels to a 57-45 victory over Valencia in an Orange League game at Valencia.

Held to a single basket in the first half, Rivera helped Savanna (13-3, 2-0) hold off a late Valencia charge. The Tigers (5-10, 0-2) were limited to only two field goals in the third quarter.

Valencia gained a point before the start of the final period when the referees conferred with the official scorer and ruled a shot by Bernie James a three-pointer instead of two points. That cut the Rebels’ lead to, 35-20, to start the fourth quarter.

Valencia outscored Savanna, 15-8, to start the period on three-pointers by James and Mike Munoz. The Tigers cut the lead to five, 43-38, with 1:48 to play on Rudy Lopez’s three-pointer.

But the Rebels responded with key baskets from Rivera and Richard Kemple to put the game out of reach.

Savanna missed seven straight free throws at one point midway through the final quarter. The Rebels made only 7 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter.

“If we would have made them, this would have been a blowout,” said Coach Tom Gregory. “We didn’t capitalize when we had the chance.” James led Valencia with 16 points, followed by Lopez and Mark Miller with 8 each.

Brea-Olinda 67, Anaheim 51--Matt Chamberlin scored 27 points, 12 in the final quarter to lead Brea-Olinda at Anaheim. Chamberlin, a 6-foot 6-inch center, had a five-inch height advantage over the tallest Anaheim player. Anaheim trailed, 34-28, at halftime and 48-41, at the end of third quarter before Brea and Chamberlin took control.

Rodney Stewart added 13 points and Keith Walker 11 for Brea-Olinda (9-6, 2-0). Marcus Mitchell scored 19 and Matt Buis 13 for Anaheim (0-2, 1-11).

Magnolia 61, Western 60--Brian Wilson scored on a short jump shot with four seconds remaining to give the Sentinels their first league victory. Magnolia (7-8, 1-1) trailed, 60-59, when center Mike Goff dribbled through the lane, attracted a crowd of defenders and then passed to Wilson for an open shot.

Goff, the county’s leading scorer with a 31.4 average, finished with 23 points and 28 rebounds. Western (9-5, 1-1) was paced by Chris Bowen with 28 points.