BOYS’ BASKETBALL / ORANGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC : Esperanza Outlasts Stubborn Foothill

Esperanza, ranked second in Orange County, fought off a case of the holiday blahs to defeat a stubborn Foothill team, 74-62, Tuesday in a first-round game of the Orange Holiday Classic boys’ basketball tournament at Chapman.

Lohnnie Tape had 30 points for the Aztecs, who led by as many as 11 points in the first half. But Esperanza, which will play Santa Clara at 3:30 p.m. in the second round today, couldn’t put Foothill away.

“We came out flat,” Esperanza Coach Mark Hill said, “Maybe because it’s right after Christmas. Foothill played super hard and we didn’t match that effort, especially on defense.”

Still, Esperanza’s pressure helped force 14 turnovers in the first half. Foothill’s offense struggled at times and the Knights committed 21 turnovers.

Foothill (4-6) also had matchup problems on defense. The Knights don’t have a player taller than 6 feet 2, and they had to contend with Tape (6-6), Josh Greer (6-7) and Andrew Gaulden (6-7).

Esperanza (11-1) continually worked the ball inside and its pressure helped create a number of easy transition baskets. The Aztecs made 30 of 60 from the field and had 22 baskets that were dunks or layups.

Greer scored 17 points, 13 in the first half, and Gaulden had 11 points. Gaulden had nine in the second half when Greer missed 6 1/2 minutes of action after he picked up his fourth foul with 3 minutes 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

When Greer went to the bench, Foothill made its move.

Gaulden made a layup to make it, 43-33, with 4:26 remaining in the third quarter before Foothill outscored Esperanza, 13-4, to close to one back with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Knights stayed with the Aztecs because of good outside shooting. Foothill made three of four from three-point range in the third quarter to help fuel the rally led by John Brittingham (20 points), Ryan Fries (16 points) and Matt Higgins (12 points).

Foothill’s run made it, 47-46, but Tape answered by scoring inside at the third-quarter buzzer to give Esperanza a three-point lead.

Esperanza regained control when Tape scored twice from the post, Chad Willardson scored on a three-point play and Greer added a rebound basket to push the lead to 10 with 4:19 remaining.