Orange League Roundup : Savanna’s Kemple Plays It Smart, Snatches Victory from Brea

Tom Gregory, Savanna High School basketball coach, says point guard Richard Kemple is the most intelligent player he has ever coached.

Kemple, a 5-foot 9-inch senior, used his smarts to steal the ball from an unsuspecting opponent and drive for a layup that sparked Savanna to a 48-45 victory over Brea-Olinda Wednesday night in Orange League play.

Kemple took the ball from Brea’s Rodney Stewart and scored with 32 seconds remaining to give the Rebels a 46-45 lead. Moments later, he made two free throws that sealed the victory and gave Savanna (15-3, 3-0) sole possession of first place in the six-team league.

Stewart, a sophomore, had merely been trying to execute a play called by Wildcat Coach Rick Jones. He dribbled to midcourt and glanced over to the bench for the play when the opportunistic Kemple made the steal that turned the game around.

It marked the first time Brea-Olinda (9-8, 2-1) had lost to the Rebels in its gym in five years.

“I had a tough time selling my players that it was possible to beat Brea in their gym,” Gregory said. “You’re constantly fighting the Brea mystique. You almost come here expecting to lose.”

Brea has won the league title four consecutive seasons, and the Wildcats were considered the favorites again this year despite starting two sophomores and two juniors.

They opened Wednesday’s game with championship-caliber play, racing to a 15-4 lead in the first quarter as Savanna made only one shot and committed seven turnovers in eight minutes.

Gregory managed to calm his team down, and the Rebels responded with eight consecutive points in the second quarter to tighten the game. Savanna eventually tied Brea, 34-34, early in the fourth quarter on a follow shot by reserve Tim Tillman and later took a 44-41 lead on a three-point shot by guard Justine Paule.

Sophomore Keith Walker gave the Wildcats their last lead, 45-44, on two free throws with 1:24 remaining, setting up Kemple’s heroics.

“They’re in the driver’s seat now, but we’re still in the front seat,” Jones said. “We had a couple of mistakes by a sophomore, but Rodney will rebound. He’s a very talented player.

“You have to give Savanna credit. They’re hungry, and they didn’t quit when we got the big lead in the first quarter. They could go 10-0 in the league.”

Valencia 67, Magnolia 65--Bernie James scored 21 points and Rudy Lopez 20 to lead the Tigers (7-9, 1-2) at Magnolia. Mike Goff had 33 points and 16 rebounds for the Sentinels (7-9, 1-2).

Western 76, Anaheim 45--The Pioneers (10-5, 2-1) outscored the Colonists, 21-10, in the second quarter to take a 36-21 halftime lead. Chris Bowen and Clint Watson each scored 13 points for Western. Marcus Mitchell led the Colonists (1-12, 0-3) with 11 points.