CENTURY LEAGUE : Nothing Flashy, but El Modena Wins Game, League Title

This is not the most talented team Tim Tivenan has had at El Modena.

The Vanguards aren’t exceptionally quick. They aren’t real big. Shooting? Well, most teams play zones against them, get the picture.

About all you can say about them is they win. They do have a knack for that.

El Modena did so again Wednesday, rallying to beat Orange, 58-50, to win the Century League title outright. It’s El Modena’s third consecutive championship and the fourth in five seasons.

“We knew everyone was going to be chasing us this year,” center Aaron Aguilera said. “We had to be prepared for that. We had to prove ourselves night in and night out.”

On Wednesday, that meant digging out of a hole after more than two quarters of burrowing.

The Vanguards (14-8, 8-1) turned the ball over 13 times in the first half and found themselves trailing, 34-24, with six minutes left in the third quarter. It was like a wake-up call.

For the next five minutes, the Vanguards were perfect. Orange (10-13, 5-4) got only two shots and turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions.

Much of that was turned into points. El Modena went on a 13-0 run.

“We just stay on top of people,” guard Mario Perez said. “Everyone wants to beat us, but we do what we have to do to prevent that.”

Even if it means going to their weakness.

The Vanguards have seen more then their share of zone defenses, with good reason. After all, Perez, reputed to be their best shooter, went on a one-for-20 streak earlier this season.

So opponents have collapsed on the 6-foot-4 Aguilera, the team’s leading scorer at 15 points per game.

“Everyone plays that wussy zone against us,” Aguilera said. “Wimps.”

This time, though, Orange paid the price.

Perez and Tyler Wood tossed in one jumper after another. Wood scored 20 points, including four three-pointers. Perez scored 14, including two three pointers.

In other games:

Foothill 70, Canyon 50--Jared Winger had 26 points and Justin Bower had 20 for Foothill (4-5 in league), which made 23 of 29 free throws. Steve Whelan had 13 points for host Canyon (10-14, 1-8).

Villa Park 41, Santa Ana Valley 37--Santa Ana Valley’s Anthony Porter was held scoreless in the first half and finished with seven points. Villa Park improved to 8-14. Santa Ana Valley fell to 14-11, 5-4.