GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE ROUNDUP : La Quinta Cleans Up in Opener

It might not be a philosophy Georgetown’s John Thompson would implement, but it worked for La Quinta Coach Jim Perry Wednesday night in his Garden Grove League opener.

Go play the best competition you can find--in Perry’s case it was in Arizona. Get thumped by 20 points in all three games, and presto, you’re ready to begin league play.

Perry’s Aztecs were in a different league than Santiago, dominating the Cavaliers in every phase of a 68-45 victory at La Quinta.

La Quinta (3-7, 1-0) led only 31-22 at halftime, but it beat Santiago (4-7, 0-1) at its own game--helter-skelter basketball--and outscored the Cavaliers, 22-4, in the third quarter. Sophomore Greg Greenfield led the surge with eight of his 13 points.

“Greg Greenfield was much more animated,” Perry said. “He was very strong with the ball.”

Perry said all of his players appeared stronger against Santiago than they did in Arizona, where they lost tournament games against Chandler and Mt. View High of Arizona and Newport of Seattle.

“We’re better than our record,” Perry said. “Any of those three teams could win the (Garden Grove) league. Our kids were so used to playing 6-7 and 6-8 guys, they came out here excited tonight.”

The excitement resulted in plenty of layups against Santiago’s pressure defense. And when La Quinta wasn’t getting easy baskets, it was hitting three-point baskets. Joe Linck and Todd Snyder had back-to-back three-pointers to begin a 10-0 third-quarter run.

“We emphasized making the extra pass and playing at our speed instead of their speed,” Perry said. “I think we got them a little out of sync.”

Santiago outscored La Quinta, 19-15, in the fourth quarter as both coaches played their reserves.

Snyder, a junior point guard, led La Quinta with 14 points and nine assists. Greenfield had 13 points, and Corey Samuels added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Johnny Pelayo led Santiago with 13 points and seven rebounds and Paldo Martinez added 10 points.

In other boys’ games:

Pacifica 48, Bolsa Grande 43--Phil Vlasic scored 11 points for Pacifica (5-2), and Bolsa Grande got 12 from James Britton.

Kennedy 64, Los Amigos 45--Jeff Cummins scored 16 points, including two from three-point range, and pulled down seven rebounds for Kennedy (10-3, 1-0). Teammate Steve Vetica had 10 assists to go with his seven points, and Paul Pappas added 13 points. Jeff Martell paced Los Amigos (1-8, 0-1) with 11 points.

In Garden Grove League girls’ basketball:

Santiago 81, La Quinta 35--Yamila Olmedo (26 points, 10 rebounds) and America Robledo (22 points, 12 assists) combined to pace Santiago (8-2, 1-0). Rachel Matemate added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Ronnie Gondringer led La Quinta (7-2, 0-1) with 16 points.

Kennedy 76, Los Amigos 35--Lynly Matsumoto had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Kennedy (8-3, 1-0), which led, 20-5, after the first quarter.

Rancho Alamitos 75, Garden Grove 44--Akilah Rodgers came off the bench to score 28 points, on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor, and grabbed 15 rebounds for visiting Rancho Alamitos (9-4, 1-0). Timerie James had 16 points and Michelle Frank 14 points and 12 rebounds for Rancho Alamitos.

Pacifica 48, Bolsa Grande 36--Junior guard Pular Surch scored 20 points for Pacifica (2-6, 1-0). It was the fourth consecutive game Surch scored 20 points or more. Teammate Victoria Peck had 11 rebounds.