SOUTHERN SECTION 5-AA BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : No. 1 Saddleback Still Sharp After a Week Off

Contrary to the pregame worries of its coach, Pat Quinn, Saddleback High School’s basketball team proved Friday night that nothing, not even a week without competition, could cramp the style of the No. 1-ranked team in the Southern Section 5-AA.

Saddleback gained its 20th consecutive victory of the season with an 84-58 victory over Chaffey in a Southern Section 5-AA second-round game in front of a crowd of 1,600 at Saddleback.

With the victory, Saddleback (25-1) advances to Wednesday’s quarterfinals where it will play Long Beach Jordan (18-8), a 74-55 winner over Fountain Valley Friday night.

Quinn, who before the game said he was concerned that his team might be stale because of a first-round bye, was delighted with the end result. But he also confirmed the notion that Chaffey didn’t exactly put up the strongest of defenses.

“We’re used to tight defenses. In Orange County, everyone’s in your face all the time,” Quinn said. “At times, they sort of let us do whatever we wanted to do.”

And Saddleback was happy to comply, especially in the second half.

After gaining a 41-28 lead at halftime, Saddleback opened the third quarter with a 16-point run, holding Chaffey scoreless for nearly five minutes.

Along with making nine of 10 free throws, Saddleback highlighted its run with a left-handed hook by Elton Moore, a three-point swish by Tony Agnew, and a full-court layup off a steal by Jim Galbert. The latter brought the crowd to its feet.

Chaffey had trouble containing the Roadrunners throughout the game. Saddleback opened a 9-0 lead in the first quarter, and Chaffey brought it to within five (13-8) after two Les Shepherd free throws.

But that was as close as Chaffey would get, as Saddleback--sparked by two consecutive three-pointers by Sean Simon, and another by Agnew at the buzzer--went to the perimeter to end the first quarter with a 24-16 lead.

Chaffey, which ends its season at 18-7, never threatened again after that.

Saddleback showed its dominance in all aspects of the game.

The Roadrunners outrebounded the Tigers, 36-21. They used a multitude of defenses in forcing 14 Chaffey turnovers. And the team’s depth showed as six players scored in double figures. With 3:53 remaining in the game, Quinn replaced all five starters with reserves.

Simon, Agnew and Craig Marshall each scored 15 points; Moore added 12 and Galbert and Malru Dottin each had 10 to lead Saddleback. Reggie Cain scored 14 points to lead Chaffey.

Asked if Saddleback’s early exit from the playoffs last season--the Roadrunners were eliminated in the 3-A quarterfinals last season by eventual champion Kennedy--had anything to do with their motivation Friday, Quinn smiled and said:

“Yeah, they’re not worried about losing anymore. They’re out there only to win.”