ORANGE LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Western Surprises Brea-Olinda, 68-66

The significance of Western High School’s 68-66 overtime victory over Brea-Olinda can be measured in years--23 of them. That’s how long it has been since the Pioneers have won a league championship.

But when a desperate three-point attempt by Brea’s Rodney Stewart came up short Friday night, Western was a step closer to ending that drought. The victory left the Pioneers in a first-place tie in the Orange League with the Wildcats, who were ranked fourth in Orange County, with two games left in the regular season.

In an emotional game at Western High School, the Pioneers came from three points down in the final minute of regulation. Thomas Barraza tied the score, 62-62, with a pair of free throws with two seconds left.

Barraza also made two free throws with 38 seconds left in overtime to give Western (16-5 overall, 7-1 in league play) a 66-63 lead.

“There’s no one else I would rather have on the line than Thomas,” Western Coach Greg Hoffman said. “He’s not the best free-throw shooter on the team, but he has guts and a big heart. When he got fouled (at the end of regulation), I said to my assistant coach, ‘This is money in the bank.’ I wish I had a financial investment like that.”

Barraza was the Pioners’ money-man in the second half, as he scored all 18 of his points after halftime. But it was senior guard Sam Sabbara who gave Western the emotional spark.

Sabbara, who had 18 points, missed the previous game against Brea with the chicken pox. The Pioneers lost that game, 63-51.

But from the start Friday, it was apparent Sabbara was going to be a problem for the Wildcats. He scored seven of the Pioneers’ first nine points and had 14 at halftime.

Sabbara also got the the Pioneers started in overtime. He drove baseline, drawing a double-team, then passed to Robbie Shelton (20 points) for a layup that gave Western a 64-62 lead.

The Pioneers never trailed again.

After Shelton’s basket, Stewart made one of two free throws. Barraza then made his free throws and Steve Siefkin made two free throws to give the Pioneers a 68-63 lead.

Stewart then made a three-pointer, but missed a shot from half court at the buzzer.

Behind Sabbara, Western led at the half, 31-28, and increased that lead to 41-32 with 4:16 left in the third quarter. Brea (19-4, 7-1), which had 12 consecutive victories, came back behind the play of Keith Walker.

Walker scored 37 points, 21 after halftime. He was effective at posting up on Barraza, who is three inches shorter.

Walker made 11 of 20 field goals and 15 of 17 free throws.

“That was incredible,” Hoffman said. “I thought we did a real good job of defending him. We can’t defend a player better than that. But he is so good at creating his opportunities.”

Savanna 56, Anaheim 48--Keith Rodriguez had 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead host Savanna (15-9, 5-3). Dan Castro had 20 points for Anaheim (8-13, 2-6).

Magnolia 62, Valencia 60 (OT)--Wayne Thomas scored a game-high 25 points as visiting Magnolia (6-14, 1-7) won its first league game. Richard Tibbie scored 19 for Valencia (8-15, 2-6).