Orange County Sports / Prep Basketball : 3-A PLAYOFFS : Roundup : Cypress Wins in Overtime; Western Holds Off Leuzinger

Mike Flowers, a junior center, came off the bench to score 11 second-half points, 5 in overtime, to lead Cypress High School to a 61-58 victory over Montebello Friday in a Southern 3-A first-round game at Montebello.

Flowers, 6-feet 5-inches, began the season at 280 pounds and as Cypress’ starting center. He lost his starting spot midway through the season because of inconsistent performances. But Flowers is at 250 now, having shed the weight through weightlifting and conditioning.

Cypress (9-16) trailed, 48-41, midway through the fourth quarter but rallied behind Flowers, Greg Bedford and forward Bond Weaver.

Montebello (16-7) was led by John Brown’s 19 points. Weaver and Joe Pinkston led Cypress in scoring with 15 points each. Bedford added 12.