Saugus Beats Thousand Oaks in Close Shave

For Saugus High’s sake, thank goodness the Centurions play basketball better than they cut hair.

They clipped Coach John Clark’s hair Friday, bloodied his scalp in the process, then showed much steadier hands in shearing Thousand Oaks, 56-52, in overtime of a Southern Section I-A Division quarterfinal game at Canyon High.

“They kept working their way into my scalp and ol’ shaky hands left me bleeding,” Clark grumbled, then smiled. “But, of course, that kid didn’t play tonight.”

Instead, Saugus used the better touch of senior center Greg Yumbar. Yumbar, despite picking up his fourth foul with 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation, scored 24 points and hit two key baskets in overtime, pushing the Cinderella Centurions (20-9) into the semifinals against Santa Barbara on Tuesday.

Saugus finished tied for third in the Golden League, but has beaten four opponents in postseason play and the Centurions have won seven consecutive games.

“We could have given up, and I could be fishing right now,” said Clark, who led Saugus to a 3-A Division title in 1987.

Clark might have been at the bait shop today if not for Yumbar and some clutch free throw shooting by Jason Riggio. Yumbar, a 6-foot-5 senior, hit a jump shot with 53 seconds left in regulation that tied the score, 50-50, and sent it to overtime.

During overtime, Yumbar’s basket gave Saugus a 52-50 lead with 2 minutes 26 seconds left. After consecutive turnovers by Thousand Oaks (22-5), Yumbar’s basket extended Saugus’ lead 54-50 with 56 seconds left.

Thousand Oaks’ Gal Hever and Chris Loll (22 points and nine rebounds) could each hit only the front end of a one and one, pulling the Lancers within 54-52 with 20 seconds left. Riggio missed the front end of a one and one with 17 seconds left, but Thousand Oaks--unable to get the ball to Loll--settled for a driving layin by Hever that bounced hard off the backboard and didn’t hit the rim with four seconds left.

Riggio, who made seven of 10 free throws, secured the win when he hit both ends of a one and one with three seconds left.

“We were soft when the game was on the line earlier in the season, but I got tougher with them and they’ve responded,” Clark said. “I really turned the screws down on them.”

Thousand Oaks appeared to take control with four minutes left in regulation when Loll hit a jump shot that gave the Lancers a 44-39 lead, the largest by either team.

But, no doubt in similar fashion to the kid with the razor, Saugus kept grinding away. “The kid cut me more than they cut my hair,” Clark said with a finger dabbing at his red scalp. “There was blood everywhere.”