DIVISION I-AA BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Domingo’s Big Night Leads Barons

Fountain Valley, that nondescript basketball team, got a personality Tuesday night.

Phil Domingo, the Barons’ rail-thin center, scored a career-high 31 points in a 79-69 victory over Long Beach Millikan in the first round of Southern Section I-AA playoffs at Fountain Valley. Domingo scored inside and outside, with power moves and high-arching jumpers.

He was downright entertaining, which is out of character for any Fountain Valley player.

“We don’t have anyone that’s exceptional, we just have five good starters,” Domingo said.

The Barons (21-5) rode that Five-Guys-Named-Moe theme to the Sunset League title. No one stood out and no one wanted to.

But Domingo stuck his big toe on center stage Tuesday. He had the highest point total of the season for the Barons, who will play Esperanza Friday.

He made 14 of 21 shots, many of which came in key situations. Domingo made six consecutive shots in the second half, helping the Barons extend their lead to 65-49 with 3 minutes 50 seconds left in the game.

It was then left to Danny Hoppie, who mopped up, making nine of 10 free throws in the final 2:20.

“I just kind of felt it tonight,” said Domingo, who also had 11 rebounds. “But everybody did a great job tonight.”

But it was Domingo who was the crowd pleaser, even when play was stopped. In the fourth quarter, officials ordered Domingo to change his jersey because he had blood on it. His 6-foot-5, 185-pound physique brought cat calls from the stands during the switch.

“Crowd like that, huh?” Coach Gordon Billingsley said.

They liked it even more, when Domingo dunked moments later, giving the Barons a 67-53 lead.

Domingo scored 17 points in the first half, giving the Barons a 36-30 halftime lead. They slowly extended that lead in the third quarter, with, of course, Domingo leading the way.

“Everyone has had big games for us this season,” Billingsley said. “Tonight, it was Domingo’s turn.”

In other Division I-AA games:

Esperanza 77, Redlands 57--Josh Greer had 24 points and eight rebounds, Mike Thimgan added 19 points and Mike Lawson and Ryan Johnson each had nine points for Esperanza (18-8).

Santa Ana Valley 84, Fontana A.B. Miller 45--Olujimi Mann had 27 points and Michael Riggins had 16 for Santa Ana Valley (24-3), which will play Long Beach Jordan Friday.