BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Kasper Wins It for El Dorado

El Dorado’s Justin Kasper was the smallest player on the court at the end of the game, but he made the big plays to help the Golden Hawks post a 72-68 victory over Brea Olinda Wednesday at El Dorado High.

Kasper, a 5-foot-11 senior, scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and made both ends of a one-and-one situation with 10 seconds remaining to push El Dorado’s lead to four points. Kasper sealed the victory by grabbing the ball after Matt Bodiford missed a last-second three-point attempt.

“Kasper does all the little things most people don’t notice,” El Dorado Coach Tim Tivenan said. “He’s a great defender, he plays smart . . . Justin and Dustin Miller have been making the key plays for us down the stretch all season.”

Miller finished with 12 points and made both ends of a one-and-one situation with 28 seconds remaining to make it 70-65. After Brea’s Brian Seaton made a three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining to cut the lead to two, the Wildcats fouled Kasper, who clinched the victory.

Center Robbie Sammons scored eight of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead El Dorado, which shot 53% from the field. The Golden Hawks made seven of nine shots from the field and seven of seven from the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Although Sammons got into early foul trouble, picking up his third foul with 4:27 left in the second quarter, El Dorado (12-3) didn’t miss a beat as 6-5 sophomore Ryan Ayer scored five of his seven points in the second quarter.

El Dorado led early, but Brea (10-6) battled back and the teams exchanged one-point leads in the final three minutes of the second quarter.

Sean Wink’s jumper gave Brea its last lead, 44-42, with 2 minutes 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter before Sammons scored 10 points to help El Dorado outscore the Wildcats, 17-6, in the next five minutes.

Brea tried to rally behind Bodiford, who had 15 points, and John Heredia, who had 14 points. But every time the Wildcats got close, Kasper and the Golden Hawks had an answer.