CENTURY LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Canyon in Control Early in Victory Over Santa Ana

Canyon High School played one solid half of basketball Wednesday night, but it was enough to take over sole possession of second place in the Century League.

After playing to near perfection in the first half, Canyon turned its big lead into a 57-52 victory over Santa Ana at Canyon. The victory moved the Comanches a game ahead of the Saints with one regular-season game remaining.

“This was a big, big win for us,” Canyon Coach Steve Sabins said. “I thought we played an excellent game.”

For one half, anyway. The Comanches (13-10 overall, 6-3 in league) disrupted the Saints’ offense early on by denying forward Chauncey Woolridge the ball.

Woolridge came into the game averaging 17 points a game, but was scoreless in the first half Wednesday. He finished with 13 points, but made only four of 12 shots.

Without Woolridge, the Saints appeared confused on offense. Octavio Medina was the only consistent player. He scored eight points in the first half and finished with 21.

Santa Ana remained close until early in the second quarter, but was held scoreless for the final 6 minutes 5 seconds of the half. Canyon scored 11 consecutive points during that span to take a 30-15 halftime lead.

“We took Woolridge out of the game and held them to 15 points,” Sabins said. “We can’t play any better. That’s as good of a half as anyone can play.”

The Saints, who had won four consecutive league titles entering the season, opened the game in a box-and-one defense in an effort to control Canyon’s Kevin Wilborn. For the most part it worked. Wilborn, who averages 16 points a game, had only four at halftime.

However, Eric Oliver picked up the slack. He scored 11 points in the first half and finished with 19.

Foothill 61, Santa Ana Valley 43--Center Fred Amos scored 22 points and forward Mark Wilkinson added 20 points as Foothill won its ninth consecutive game.

El Modena 46, Villa Park 45 (OT)--El Modena’s Gregg Gottlieb made a three-point field goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. He also scored four of the Vanguards’ six points in overtime.