FREEWAY LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Buena Park Earns a Share of Title

Ed Matillo didn’t exactly inherit a dynasty when he took over as Buena Park High School’s basketball coach in 1988 and the Coyotes stumbled to a 1-19 record in his first season.

“We really struggled that year,” Matillo said. “Fortunately, we had a good freshman team. I moved them up to varsity the next year and we’ve been winning ever since.”

The Coyotes clinched a share of the Freeway League title with Sunny Hills for the second consecutive year with a 45-43 victory over Troy Friday night.

Brian Baylor scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter as the Coyotes (19-5, 8-2) rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit. His first three-pointer put Buena Park ahead, 41-39, giving the Coyotes their first lead since early in the second quarter.

“We really need Brian to step up and hit for us,” Matillo said. “He’s our outside guy, and he can get us going.”

Baylor hit another big shot--a layup with 1:01 left to play that put Buena Park ahead, 43-39. Forward Angel Barrios’ driving baseline shot had bounced off the side of the backboard, but Barrios rebounded while lying on his back and tossed the ball to Baylor for the layup.

Troy guard Randy Abbott scored seven of the Warriors’ 11 fourth-quarter points, but he missed two free throws, a jumper and committed one of two costly turnovers in the final 3:50.

“The two turnovers really hurt us,” Troy Coach T.J. Hardeman said.

Joe Clarkson hit two free throws to give Buena Park a 45-41 lead with seven seconds left. Troy’s Tim Lien followed a Jim Falletta miss with two seconds remaining for the game’s final points.

Troy (14-10, 5-5) trailed, 10-7, at the end of the first quarter, but the Warriors capitalized on eight Buena Park turnovers in the second quarter to build a 19-14 halftime lead. Falletta scored six points in the quarter and blocked a dunk attempt by Josh Hourtal.

Matillo said he was frustrated with the Coyotes’ sluggish first half.

“I was falling asleep out there,” Matillo said. “I told them to pick it up in the second half, that it was a league championship game.”

Center Gavin Molinar led Buena Park with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Barrios added 10 points. Abbott led Troy with 14 points.

The victory was Buena Park’s second this season over Troy. The Coyotes beat the Warriors, 44-41, on Jan. 29.

Buena Park’s 19 victories are the most since 1960, Matillo said. The Coyotes have gradually improved during his coaching tenure, winning 12 games in his second season and 16 and a share of the title last year.

Matillo said he didn’t mind splitting the championship with Sunny Hills again.

“It’s back-to-back titles for us, and that has never been done here,” he said. “But we just can’t seem to shake Sunny Hills.”

In other league games:

Sunny Hills 66, Fullerton 38--Terry Mann had 20 points and 14 rebounds for co-champion Sunny Hills (20-4, 8-2). Pablo Garza had 17 points and seven rebounds for Fullerton (7-17, 2-8).

Sonora 65, La Habra 58--James Cannaday scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the host Raiders outscored the Highlanders, 22-12, overcoming a three-point deficit. Chris St. Clair had 24 for Sonora (15-10, 6-4) and Chris Campbell added 14. Rusty Volkert scored 20 for La Habra (4-19, 1-9).