ROUNDUP : Katella Comes to Life, Upsets No. 2 Los Alamitos

Playing without key player Ali Ton and plagued by fouls early, No. 2-ranked Los Alamitos was upset, 60-45, by Katella in an Empire League boys’ basketball game Friday night at Los Alamitos.

The Griffins (21-4, 9-1) started hot, taking a 30-23 halftime lead, but Katella’s defense shut them down in the second half.

Katella’s Mike Pahl and LaBroyn Clayton came alive in the second half, Pahl scoring nine of his 14 points and Clayton 16 of his 22. Both finished with 10 rebounds.

Ryan Staniec and Jeremy Vandervoet, two of Los Alamitos’ top players, fouled out in the first half, and Ton was unable to play because of an ankle injury suffered last week.

Katella is 15-8, 6-4.

In other Empire League games:

Cypress 58, El Dorado 48--Chad Boberg scored 20 points and Derek Mitchell added 15 for visiting Cypress (13-12, 4-6).

Esperanza 65, Loara 51--Josh Greer scored 16 points for 10th-ranked Esperanza (17-8, 7-3). Scott Davis scored 21 for Loara, which finished 12-13, 2-8.

In the Express League:

Huntington Beach Claremont 64, Pioneer Baptist 31--Steve Kimble ended the season with his fifth triple double--18 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists--for host Claremont (7-9, 4-9). Teammate Gavin Watson scored 25 points.

In Freeway League boys’ basketball:

Sonora 64, La Habra 61--Sergio Hernandez scored 22 points to lead Sonora (22-5, 8-2). Andrija Kristich and Brian Tollefson scored 12 points each for La Habra (16-10, 5-5), which plays at Fullerton at 10 a.m. today for the league’s final playoff berth.

Fullerton 57, Buena Park 50--Junior forward Tim VanDenburg led Fullerton (14-12, 5-5) with a game-high 15 points. Teammate Sam Mankiewicz added 14 and Chris Young had eight assists. Albert Gasso scored 12 points for Buena Park (3-22, 0-10).

In the Metro League:

Pacific Shores 55, Corona Christian 48--Senior guard Josh Kalb had 25 points, six rebounds and five assists for Pacific Shores (9-7, 7-5), which clinched third in the league. Joey Lippnik added 16 rebounds.

In the Olympic League:

Cerritos Valley Christian 68, Orange Lutheran 61--Steve DeGraaf scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for Cerritos Valley Christian (11-12, 8-4), outscored Orange Lutheran, 30-9, in the fourth quarter to erase a 14-point deficit and clinch third place. Tony Risberg scored 12 of his 24 points in the third quarter for Orange Lutheran (2-20, 1-11).

In the Pacific Coast League:

Century 60, Laguna Hills 57 (OT)--Jesse McDonald grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it back in as Laguna Hills (9-14, 4-6) sent the game into overtime. Second-place Century made four of six free throws in overtime to win.

Thomas Harmon scored a game-high 25 points for Century (22-4, 8-2). Ronny Aristondo added 13.

Laguna Beach 56, Estancia 55--Brandon Bloch made the front end of a one-and-one with four seconds left to give Laguna Beach (7-17, 3-7) the upset. Ian McDonald led the Artists with 14 points, and Bloch added 13. Kevin Byrne led Estancia (15-10, 6-4) with 18 points.

Trabuco Hills 79, Costa Mesa 49--Ryan Karnoff scored 18 points to lead the host Mustangs (21-5, 9-1). Costa Mesa is 6-18, 0-10.

In the South Coast League:

Mater Dei 82, Capistrano Valley 51--Miles Simon scored 27 points and sophomore Schea Cotton added 21 as top-ranked Mater Dei defeated Capistrano Valley at Capistrano Valley High.

Despite the loss, Capistrano Valley (15-10, 4-6) finished in third and receives an automatic playoff berth. Brandon Puffer and John Earnest each scored 12 points for the Cougars.

Clay McKnight added 12 points for Mater Dei (26-0, 10-0), which led, 22-5, after the first quarter.

Dana Hills 59, San Clemente 53--Bob Hefty scored 19 points and had 15 rebounds for visiting Dana Hills (14-11, 7-3), which finishes second. Luke Mannix and Phinney Gardner had 15 points each for San Clemente (12-12, 3-7).

El Toro 75, Mission Viejo 64--Trent Meng scored 17 points for visiting El Toro (11-14, 3-7). Austin Moherman scored 20 points for Mission Viejo (9-15, 3-7).

In Olympic League girls’ basketball:

Calvary Chapel 52, Brethren Christian 16--Blythe Linsey scored 29 points and had 13 rebounds for Calvary Chapel (16-9, 8-4).