EMPIRE LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL : No. 2 Los Alamitos Blasts No. 10 Esperanza

If Esperanza is the best challenger the Empire League can muster for Los Alamitos, perhaps the Griffins’ remaining league games will be merely tune-ups for the playoffs.

Los Alamitos, ranked second in Orange County, blasted No. 10 Esperanza, 69-41, in an Empire League boys’ basketball game Wednesday at Los Alamitos High, and it wasn’t even that close.

Tim Lin had 15 points, including three three-pointers, and Brady Doyle added 14 to lead Los Alamitos (16-3, 4-0 in league), which scored the first 12 points of the game and led by as many as 32 points in the third quarter.

Esperanza (12-7, 2-2) didn’t score until Josh Greer made an 18-foot jumper, the Aztecs’ lone basket of the first quarter, with 1 minute 58 seconds remaining.

Los Alamitos’ defense frustrated the Aztecs into 21 turnovers, while forcing them to shoot 17% (four of 23) from the field in the first half.

Ali Ton and Lin took turns hounding Esperanza’s Mike Thimgan, who entered the game averaging 14 points, and their denial defense held Thimgan to three points and just five shots in the first half while the Griffins built a 36-14 lead.

Thimgan didn’t get his hands on the ball in the Esperanza offense until the first quarter was nearly halfway finished.

Offensively, Ton set the pace dishing out 10 assists to go with his seven points. Forward Ryan Staniec, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds, was one of Ton’s many beneficiaries as the Griffins scored 40 of their 57 points in the paint during the first three quarters. Los Alamitos shot 51% (24 of 47) through three quarters.

“Ali set the pace on offense and we got a lot of good opportunities in transition,” Los Alamitos Coach Steve Brooks said. “They executed well tonight.”

Thimgan had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Greer had eight points and four blocked shots to lead Esperanza.

In other league games:

Katella 50, Cypress 41--Nick Roditis scored 16 points for host Katella (11-6, 2-2). LaBryon Clayton added 13 and Mike Pahl 11 for the Knights.

Chad Boberg scored 19 points for Cypress (11-8, 2-2), which led, 15-9, at the end of the first quarter. Katella then outscored Cypress, 11-3, to take a 20-18 lead at the half.

Katella, Esperanza and Cypress are tied for second, two games behind Los Alamitos.

El Dorado 63, Loara 49--Dante Spencer scored 22 points and Dustin Miller and Jeff Moore each added 12 to lead El Dorado (6-11, 1-3).

Scott Davis scored 19 points for Loara (11-8, 1-3), which started well, leading, 17-13, at the end of the first quarter. Ed Dorado then outscored Loara, 30-20, over the next two quarters.