Century League : El Modena Gets Past Santa Ana

After being held to 9 points in his last meeting with Santa Ana High School, El Modena center Robbie Pietsch might have had something to prove Wednesday night.

Then again, maybe it was just time for Pietsch, a 6-foot 4-inch senior, to have one of the best games of his life.

Whichever way you look at it, Pietsch’s 32 points, 13 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocked shots proved to be the big difference in El Modena’s 60-57 Century League victory over Santa Ana.

The victory gives El Modena (17-5 overall, 6-1 in league play) sole possession of first place in the Century League. Santa Ana is 16-7 and 4-3.

Leading, 42-40, in the fourth quarter, El Modena was saved several times by Pietsch’s quick thinking. He opened the quarter blocking a full-court lay-up attempt by Mike Zamora, then, just seconds later, after Santa Ana’s Oscar Wilson blocked a shot, Pietsch remained composed, grabbing the rebound and scoring on a fallaway jumper from 8 feet.

Less than a minute later, Pietsch blocked a shot by Wilson, stole the ball and drove full court to provide an assist to John Darrow for a lay-up.

It was heads-up plays like these that gave El Modena the final advantage. But Santa Ana provided a tough challenge all the way. With less than 4 minutes remaining in the game, Zamora drove the lane to cut the Saints’ deficit to 1, 52-51.

Pietsch answered, making both ends of a 1-and-1, and then scoring on a follow shot. But Chauncy Woolridge’s 15-footer and Oscar Wilson’s slam again brought the Saints to within 1, 56-55.

With 2:21 remaining, Pietsch stole the ball, drove full court, passed to Jeff Leedom who missed from close range. No worries--Pietsch made the follow shot.

In other Century League games:

Santa Ana Valley 55, Canyon 43--Court Bickmore scored 13 points and Sean Wilson added 11 to lead Santa Ana Valley (12-8, 4-3) at home. Canyon (11-11, 1-6) never led in the game, but cut Santa Ana Valley’s lead to 25-22 at halftime. But Santa Ana Valley outscored Canyon, 19-9, in the third quarter to pull away.

Foothill 63, Villa Park 50--Todd Henrotin had 17 points to lead Foothill (13-9, 5-2) to a come-from-behind victory at home. The Knights trailed, 31-23, at halftime, but rallied and is in sole possession of second place .