GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Kennedy Overcomes Galloway’s Bad Night

Even on a bad night for Jermaine Galloway, Kennedy can still play like the best boys’ basketball team in the Garden Grove League.

The Fighting Irish remained unbeaten in league play with a routine 74-51 victory over Rancho Alamitos Monday at Rancho Alamitos.

Though Galloway, Kennedy’s 6-foot-10 center, made only four of 13 shots and finished with only 10 points, the Irish (15-6, 10-0) dominated from start to finish. Guard Morgan Murakami led a 21-4 first-quarter blitz with eight points, including a three-pointer from midcourt at the buzzer.

Kennedy held leads of 10-2 and 18-2 during the first quarter, when Rancho Alamitos (9-10, 6-4) turned the ball over six times against the Irish’s 1-3-1 trap defense. Kennedy increased the lead to 31-10 with 3 minutes 30 seconds left in the first half and cruised the rest of the way.

Murakami finished with 20 points, making three of five three-point attempts. Forward Jeff Cummins added 17 points and nine rebounds for Kennedy.

Galloway used his size well to get good position for shots, but couldn’t find his touch. But with Murakami and Cummins scoring consistently, the Irish didn’t need Galloway to be at his best.

Galloway finished with six rebounds before being ejected with 4:25 left in the game on a controversial flagrant foul call. Galloway was wrestling with Rancho Alamitos’ Ed Taylor for a rebound, and Taylor was thrown to the floor after Galloway pulled the ball away hard.

The official immediately ejected Galloway, which puzzled Kennedy Coach John Mayberry.

“He called that a flagrant foul?” Mayberry asked the crowd behind the Kennedy bench. “For trying to get the ball?”

The Irish kept their poise, however, and increased a 61-42 lead at the time of Galloway’s ejection to 67-43 at the three-minute mark.

Marshall Brown led Rancho Alamitos with 13 points, including four second-half three-pointers.

In other league games:

Santiago 67, Garden Grove 51--Juan Castro scored 20 points for Santiago (8-2 in league), whose players made 11 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter. Cornell Archer scored 22 points for Garden Grove (8-13, 4-6).

Pacifica 53, La Quinta 50--Martin Berner made two free throws with one minute left to clinch the victory for Pacifica (6-13, 4-6). Teammate Jason Cousins scored 14 points. Greg Greenfield finished with 21 points for La Quinta (3-16, 2-8).

Los Amigos 82, Bolsa Grande 67--Jeff Martell scored 30 points and had 14 rebounds for Los Amigos (7-11, 5-5). Teammate Eddie Benson scored 16 points and had seven assists. Los Amigos outscored Bolsa Grande, 7-0, to start the game. Robert Fierro had 15 points for Bolsa Grande (1-17, 1-9).