THE PREPS : 2-A Basketball Playoffs : Orange Lutheran Beats Paraclete, 91-73

Jerry Simmons, Orange Lutheran High School coach, seemed a little ho-hum after watching his boys’ basketball team defeat Paraclete, 91-73, Friday night in a Southern Section 2-A semifinal game at Troy High.

Simmons, a modest fellow, underplayed his team’s performance, saying the Lancers have shot better, defended better and run better this season.

Tell that to the partisan crowd of 1,000, which not only packed Troy’s gymnasium, but gave Orange Lutheran six standing ovations along the way.

With the victory, Orange Lutheran (23-3), the second-seeded team, advances to the 2-A championship game where it will meet top-seeded Santa Clara (22-3), a 74-59 winner over St. Anthony Friday night.

Paraclete, which finished its season at 22-3, couldn’t contain the Lancers’ strong teamwork and athleticism. The Lancers, guided by off-guard Jason Neben and freshman point guard Luke Aucoin, worked the floor well, continually frustrating Paraclete with slingshot passes for inside baskets.

Orange Lutheran was effective outside as well, making many shots from 15 feet or more, as well as four three-pointers, three by Neben. Orange Lutheran dominated on the boards as well, outrebounding Paraclete, 33-18.

Along with all that, Orange Lutheran shot 54.7% from the field, and held Paraclete to just 26%.

The Lancers might have been tentative in the game’s opening moments--Paraclete jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the first 3 minutes--but they regrouped in time to take a 27-18 first-quarter lead, one which Paraclete would never overtake.

Although Paraclete made a run in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 39-36, Orange Lutheran got back-to-back three-pointers by Daryl Cole and Neben for a 45-38 halftime lead.

Cole, who scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the first half on seven-of-nine shooting, agreed with his coach, saying the team was a little flat in the first half.

Orange Lutheran responded by outscoring Paraclete, 25-14, in the third quarter, making nine of 14 shots (65%) from the field.

The Lancers also outrebounded Paraclete, 12-3, in the third quarter, and, with increased man-to-man pressure, forced Paraclete to miss its first six shots as well as commit four turnovers.