BOYS’ BASKETBALL / ORANGE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT : Fountain Valley Falls Short in Final

The Kent-Meridian Royals brought a four-game losing streak from Washington state to the Orange Holiday Classic, but will take the championship back with them.

By holding off Fountain Valley, 49-46, before an estimated 600 at Chapman University’s Hutton Sports Center the Royals (6-4) became the first out-of-state school to win the title in the tournament’s 30-year history.

“What a thrill!” Royal Coach Mike Albrecht said. “We always tell our kids to create memories for themselves. That’s what high school is all about. What a great memory for them--and for me.”

The Royals were led co-tournament MVP Emil Swain with 16 points and Tim Baker with 13. The other co-MVP, Jeff Bellach, had 14, including two free throws with seven seconds left to provide the final margin.

Paul Tayyar led Fountain Valley with 14 points, and took the Barons’ last, desperate attempt, a off-balanced 25-footer that hit the backboard as time ran out.

The Royals got to the tournament title game by dispatching Capistrano Valley, Foothill, and Compton. And they took out the Barons (8-5) with 10 three-pointers among their 16 field goals; that tied the tournament record set by Capistrano Valley in 1990. The championship game was the only one the Royals won by more than one point.

All eight of their field goals in the first half, when Kent-Meridian built a 27-22 lead, were three-pointers. Baker hit the team’s last two three-pointers in the third quarter; the Royals missed their only two attempts from three-point range in the fourth.

“Our kids can shoot it,” Albrecht said. “We’ve got four kids who can, and two who really can. We’re not very effective inside so we do rely on it.”

Fountain Valley Coach Gordon Billingsley was surprised by the number of three-pointers made by Kent-Meridian. “We knew Bellach could shoot it, but we hadn’t seen many of their other kids make it.”

In a third-place game:

Capistrano Valley 50, Esperanza 40--Randy Shepard scored 18 points to lead Capistrano Valley (9-3), which led, 27-16, at the half. Josh Greer had a game-high 19 points for the Aztecs (7-8).

Santa Margarita 55, Foothill 44--Allen Krist scored 15 points and Trey Nelson added 13 to lead Santa Margarita (13-1) in the fifth-place game. John Brittingham had 13 points and Vince DiSaia added 11 for Foothill (8-7).

In the consolation championship:

Orange 49, Santa Clara 47--Danny Garcia hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, was fouled and made the free throw for the two-point victory. Garcia had 14 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Panthers outscored Santa Clara, 20-7. Andy Lauridsen added 18 points for Orange (9-3).

Aliso Niguel 57, Marina 53--Jason Mulkay scored 20 points and Tim Blagassa added nine points to lead Aliso Niguel (5-9). Steve Bolton scored 22 points for Marina (1-11).

Auburn (Wash.) 77, Kennedy 52--Justin Zuschleg scored 16 points and David Hinojos added 12 for Kennedy (5-9).