ORANGE LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Streaky Magnolia Manages to Edge Valencia

At times Wednesday night, Magnolia’s basketball team played the way it did last season, when the Sentinels finished a distant fifth in the Orange League.

They got in foul trouble, blew double-digit leads and committed turnovers at a sloppy pace.

And at other times, the Sentinels looked like a contender for the league title, shooting 64% from the field, including 42% from three-point range, and playing solid defense.

Magnolia put together enough good streaks to hold off host Valencia, 82-79, in the league opener for both teams.

“I’m glad to get this over with and get out of here,” Magnolia Coach Al Walin said. “I’m happy, but there were times when we didn’t play smart. We do dumb things sometimes.”

Such as:

--Committing eight fouls and nine turnovers while falling behind by 10 in the first quarter.

--Failing to stop Valencia guard Kevin Deck, who ripped them for 22 first-half points.

--Making eight of 14 free throws to Valencia’s 24 of 30.

--And missing the front end of three one-and-one free-throw opportunities that would have sealed the game in the fourth quarter.

Still, the Sentinels managed to shine at times.

Guard Vorachi Sisomvang held Deck to five second-half points on one-of-10 shooting from the field.

Senior forward Aaron Williams made four of six three-point shots to spark a 33-point second quarter as Magnolia overcame the slow start and led, 47-42, at halftime. Williams finished with a team-high 20 points.

LaShaun Neal, a 6-foot-2 junior, came off the bench to score 12 points, including two three-pointers.

Brandon Hearvey, a 6-5 junior forward, scored 19 points and made all eight of his shots from the field.

And senior center Demetrius Maltie scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Sentinels (9-5) held off Valencia’s comeback.

A three-pointer by Valencia’s Bill Eubanks helped the Tigers cut a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to 76-72 with 1:24 left. But two free-throws by Neal, a follow shot by Maltie, and two more free throws by Frank Henderson gave the Sentinels the victory.

In other league games:

Anaheim 54, Savanna 47 (OT)--Rocky Ghahary made two free throws with no time remaining in regulation to force overtime. Ray Thet scored 20 points and had two three-pointers for host Anaheim (5-9, 1-0).

Western 58, Brea-Olinda 35--Frank Floyd had 24 points for host Western (10-4, 1-0). Nick Logoteta led Brea-Olinda (6-11, 0-1) with 10 points.