Boys’ Basketball : La Quinta Rallies in Second Half to Overcome Rancho Alamitos, 70-60

It wasn’t the kind of game Jim Perry, La Quinta High School boys’ basketball coach, had in mind, but it was a victory he will gladly take.

The Aztecs had four seniors score in double figures in a come-from-behind 70-60 victory over Rancho Alamitos, Thursday in a Garden Grove League game at La Quinta.

“This was an extremely ugly victory,” Perry said. “For some reason, Rancho Alamitos always play us tough, but tonight we had an unselfish group of players who were willing to do what it takes to win.”

La Quinta (17-7, 10-4) finishes second in the Garden Grove League. Kennedy is first and Bolsa Grande third. Rancho Alamitos (8-13, 7-7) was already eliminated from Southern Section 3-A playoff contention after losing to Kennedy Tuesday.

Rancho Alamitos played La Quinta close for most of the game until guard Kenny Bennett scored 9 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the comeback. Teammate John Schneggenburger added 16 points and Scott Campbell had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Kevin Webster, a guard, helped Rancho Alamitos take a 35-34 first-half lead with 10 points. But he scored only two in the second half as La Quinta rallied.

Tim Pavelec gave Rancho Alamitos its biggest lead of the second half, 43-37, scoring on a lay-in with just more than three minutes to play in the third quarter. Then La Quinta outscored Rancho Alamitos, 33-17.

Reserve forward Tim Brunner scored back-to-back baskets for a seven-point lead (67-60) within the final minute.

Kennedy 63, Bolsa Grande 53--Michael Keith scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds to lead host Kennedy. Mike Pettengill scored 15 points and had 10 assists for Kennedy (16-7, 13-1), which avenged an earlier loss to Bolsa Grande. Joe Small scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds for Bolsa Grande (16-9, 8-6).

Garden Grove 62, Los Amigos 60--Jason Freer and Ronnie Rhines each made 4 of 5 free throws in the final 2 1/2 minutes, as Garden Grove hung on for a victory at Garden Grove. Rhines scored 20 points and Isidro Maldonado 19 for Garden Grove (7-14, 6-8). Carlos Palomino scored 24 points for Los Amigos (10-14, 7-7).