PREP BASKETBALL : Orange Lutheran Gets Jump on Celebration, Beats Santa Margarita

They cranked up the sound system to the sounds of Van Halen’s “Jump” and rolled out the welcome mat to a sparkling $1.6 million gymnasium Wednesday night for the first varsity basketball game at Santa Margarita High School.

Santa Margarita started four sophomores and a freshman against an Orange Lutheran team that lost by only 4 points to Capistrano Valley a week ago.

The result was rather predictable as Orange Lutheran rolled to a 75-51 victory in the Olympic League opener for both teams.

Santa Margarita (5-5) is competing for only its second season with freshmen and sophomores but it’s clear the parochial school is a powerhouse waiting to happen.

The foundation of the program is a pair of 6-foot 7-inch sophomores, Jeff Layne and Chris Hacker, who figure to get better. But for the moment, Santa Margarita will struggle in a very competitive league.

“You get the feeling that they’re going to be a powerhouse down here,” said Jerry Simmons, Orange Lutheran coach. “They’ll be in our league for one more season next year, and I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

Orange Lutheran (8-3) utilized a 13-point scoring blitz in the first half after the teams were tied, 11-11, late in the first quarter. Orange Lutheran put the Eagles away in the third quarter by outscoring them, 22-9.

“We just want to be respectable this year,” said Rich Schaaf, Santa Margarita coach. “Our freshmen and junior varsity both won, so we’re coming.

“We have to keep reminding ourselves that we’re in our infancy. But I thought tonight was exciting. I thought the kids might be tight as a drum, but they came out and played.”

Schaaf figures his program is 2 to 3 years away from competing with the county’s top teams. The school is projected to grow from its current enrollment of 550 students to 2,000 in that time.

“They’re going to attract athletes because of the area and the facilities,” Simmons said. “They’ve got those two big kids, but they could use some ballhandling.”

Orange Lutheran pressured Santa Margarita into 17 turnovers with a full-court press and afterward Schaaf admitted his team’s weakness is at guard.

“We’ve got several good guards on the freshman team, but they’re not ready yet for the varsity,” he said. “Our freshmen just won the Santa Ana Valley tournament and they’re 8-3. The JVs are 10-1.”

While Santa Margarita is a team of tomorrow, Orange Lutheran is capable of playing with anyone. Forward Daryl Cole is one of the best pure shooters in the county and center Pat Bagatourian can bang with anybody inside.

Cole missed his opening 6 shots but warmed up and made 9 of his next 14 shots to finish with a game-high 21 points. Bagatourian added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Both players were named to the all-tournament team at the Orange Holiday tournament last week after averaging 25 points per game.