DIVISION V-A BOYS : Orangewood Academy Falls a Point Short

Orangewood Academy’s dream season came to an end Tuesday night with a heart-stopping 61-60 loss to third-seeded Palos Verdes Rolling Hills Prep in a Southern Section Division V-A boys’ basketball playoff game at Chadwick High School.

The Spartans had beaten second-seeded Los Angeles Pilgrim, 73-72, in the quarterfinals Friday and had a chance to force overtime with one second left Tuesday.

The opportunity came when Rolling Hills’ Majid Amorajabi was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim after he missed a dunk.

The technical-foul call sent Orangewood Academy’s Andy Anderson to the free-throw line for two shots with his team trailing, 61-59.

He missed the first foul shot and made the second. Orangewood Academy retained possession, but failed to get a shot off before time ran out.

“We have a lot to be proud of,” Orangewood Academy Coach Eric Thorson said. “It was our first year playing in CIF and we will be back. Mark my words.”

The teams started the fourth quarter tied, 48-48, and but Orangewood Academy missed its first two shots and fell behind, 52-48.

Orangewood Academy rallied and its last lead, 57-56, came with 3 minutes 27 seconds left. Rolling Hills went ahead, 59-57, on a free throw by Amorajabi with 1:55 left. Orangewood Academy’s Micah Lloyd tied it, 59-59, on a jump shot with 1:40 remaining.

Amorajabi made a layup with 24 seconds left to put Rolling Hills Prep ahead, 61-59. Orangewood Academy’s Anderson missed a three-pointer with six seconds left, and Rolling Hills Prep’s Brian Reich got the rebound and threw a long pass to Amorajabi who then went up for the dunk attempt.

Amorajabi, a senior center, finished with a game-high 26 points, including 10 in the second quarter as the Huskies took a 40-34 lead.

Matt Bennie, a junior guard, scored 20 points, including five three-pointers, for Orangewood Academy. Anderson finished with 14 and Brent Slagle 11.

Rolling Hills Prep advances to play Santa Maria Valley Christian in the Division V-A final Friday.