PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Kriech Gets Hot in Time for Trabuco Hills to Rally

Randy Kriech, Trabuco Hills High School’s shooting guard, knew he had the hot hand Friday night but he had a problem convincing his coach and teammates.

“I kept telling our coach to set up some plays for me . . . I’m red hot,” Kriech said. “I want the ball when I’m hot.”

So with the game on the line, Kriech took matters in his own hands, stealing an inbound pass and making a three-point play and then hitting four free throws in the final 16 seconds to give Trabuco Hills a 76-69 victory over Laguna Beach in a Pacific Coast League game at Laguna Beach.

Trabuco Hills (10-8, 4-0) overcame a 10-point deficit with four minutes remaining by outscoring Laguna Beach, 20-3, down the stretch. Laguna Beach held a 64-54 lead with four minutes remaining but its top two players, Dain Blanton and Alex Trevino, fouled out.

Kriech scored 14 of his game-high 30 points in the last quarter and didn’t miss a shot. Trabuco Hills outscored Laguna Beach, 24-12, in the last quarter.

Laguna Beach (14-4, 3-1) looked as if it would become the first league team to defeat Trabuco Hills in three seasons when Trevino swished a three-point shot with 5:22 left, giving the Artists a 62-54 lead.

But moments later, Blanton, picked up his fifth personal foul when he missed a shot and fouled Trabuco Hills’ Kerry Kinkade while fighting for a rebound. Blanton finished with 17 points despite playing only half the game. Trevino fouled out a minute and a half later.

“It certainly didn’t hurt our chances when he fouled out,” said Rainer Wulf, Trabuco Hills’ coach. “This was the first game this year that we found the guy with the hot hand. We’ve been relying on Tim Manning, Beau Hossler and Kriech all year, but some others came through tonight.”

Kriech’s biggest play came with 2:46 left to play when he stole an inbound pass and turned itinto a three-point play that tied the score, 66-66.

“We got them into a trap and I saw their guy looking for a pass and just stepped in front of him and stole the ball,” Kriech said. Kriech made 10 of 14 shots and all eight of his free throws.

“I’ve seen Randy take over in summer league games and in practice, but it was nice to see him do it in a big game,” Wulf said. “I thought we relaxed in the first half when Blanton and Trevino got into foul trouble and it nearly cost us.”

Woodbridge 78, Laguna Hills 67 (OT)--Laguna Hills outscored Woodbridge, 20-14, to tie the game at 64-64 at the end of regulation, but Woodbridge outscored Laguna Hills, 14-3, in overtime, shutting out the Hawks until the final 17 seconds of the game.Forward Joe Cohen scored 15 points for Woodbridge, six in overtime. Point guard Tim Kingsbury was four for four from the free-throw line in overtime. Forward-guard Ryan Rauch scored 21 points for Woodbridge (11-8, 3-1). Laguna Hills fell to 7-9, 1-3.

Orange 58, Costa Mesa 49--Thu Huynh had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Carlos Duran had 12 points and five assists to lead visiting Orange (7-10, 1-3). Xavier Hanna had 23 points to lead Costa Mesa (2-13, 0-4).