Century League : Foothill Trips Up Santa Ana

When 3-time defending Century League champion Santa Ana High School played Foothill earlier this season, the Saints escaped with a 6-point overtime victory.

When the teams met Friday night in the Century League opener for both schools, it took 2 overtime periods before Foothill turned the tables on Santa Ana with a 49-47 victory in Chapman College’s Hutton Sports Center.

Foothill forward Mark Wilkinson’s shot with 5 seconds remaining in the second overtime period decided the game.

But it was guard Todd Henrotin’s 4-point play that paved the way for Foothill’s victory.

Henrotin calmly sank a 3-point shot with Santa Ana’s Octavio Medina hanging on his elbow with 51 seconds remaining in regulation, and with his team on the wrong side of a 45-41 score.

His shot brought the Knights to within 1 point of Santa Ana, which had led by 8 points early in the fourth quarter. He sank his free throw to tie the game at 45-45 and send it into overtime.

“That had to be the turning point of the game,” Foothill Coach Jim Reames said.

Henrotin, who averaged 25 points a game on the junior varsity last year, finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Wilkinson added 19 points and 6 rebounds.

Santa Ana (12-5) was led by sophomore Chauncy Woolridge with 17 points.

“This gets us off to a great start,” Reames said. “El Modena, Santa Ana and Foothill were favored (in the Century League) and this gives us a 1-game advantage over them.

“We’ve come in second to Santa Ana 3 years in a row. It’s nice to get on top of them.”

Foothill improved to 9-7.

Santa Ana Valley 62, Villa Park 46--Bryan Singleton scored 14 points and Court Bickmore 13 to lead the Falcons (9-4, 1-0) at the Hutton Sports Center. Chris Johnson scored 19 points for Villa Park (8-7, 0-1).

El Modena 75, Canyon 52--Robbie Pietsch had 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead El Modena (12-4, 1-0) at the Hutton Sports Center. John Darrow scored 13 points for the Vanguards. John Hutchinson scored 21 points for Canyon (9-6, 0-1).