Momentum Swings Western’s Way

Western High School’s basketball team had a five-point lead in the third quarter and let it slip away. But that was OK.

Los Alamitos had a seven-point lead later in the quarter and let it slip away. And that wasn’t OK.

The teams spent most of their final nonleague game fumbling for momentum. Playing in its gym, Western finally found it midway through the fourth quarter and won, 61-57, Wednesday night.

How it looked mattered little to Western Coach Greg Hoffman, who was pleased with the Pioneers’ 11th victory in 12 games.

“The two teams did a good job defensing each other,” Hoffman said. “It might have had a lot to do with (how) sloppy it looked. Then again, it might have just been (sloppy).”

Afterward, Hoffman shook hands with each Western player and offered words of thanks for their hard work.

This was a big victory for Western for a number of reasons, not the least of which was finally pushing a 70-39 loss to Long Beach Millikan in the Pioneers’ last game out of mind.

Tom Barraza’s 23 points, including 11 of 12 free throws, were something of a tonic for Western.

“Tommy,” Hoffman said, “I’ll tell you, he’s the reason we’re 11-1.”

Los Alamitos (9-6) had four players in double figures, led by Keith Boldon’s 13 points. Jason Cunningham had 12 points and Bryan Hakala and Geoff Graham each had 11.

But that balance seemed to hurt down the stretch because no one took control.

Western had no such problems. Barraza had 12 points in the fourth quarter as Western built a 56-48 lead with 3:08 left.

It was Western’s largest lead, after a 30-25 advantage early in the third quarter. It didn’t hold up, though, as Los Alamitos went on a 12-0 run, to lead, 37-30, with 4:04 left in the quarter.

Western chipped away and pulled even, 41-41, on Steve Siefkin’s baseline jump shot with :02 left in the quarter.

Barraza made a jumper to start the quarter, then added a three-point basket and two free throws as Western took a 50-44 lead with 4:46 left.

Los Alamitos pulled to 60-57, but Barraza made the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with :09 left to seal the victory.

“The kids really had something to prove after the Millikan game,” Hoffman said. “That wasn’t Western. I know we could have played them better than 70-39.”