BOYS’ BASKETBALL / CENTURY HOLIDAY CLASSIC : Senik Leads El Toro Past Century, 48-47

For more than two seasons, El Toro’s Travis Senik has been one of the best kept secrets in Orange County boys’ basketball. But that’s about to change.

Senik, a 6-3 senior, is a key reason the Chargers, not expected to do much, have jumped out to an 11-3 start. And he is the main reason El Toro is in the championship game of the Century Holiday Classic tournament. His free throw--and 19th point--with six seconds to play was the difference in El Toro’s 48-47 victory over host Century on Friday.

The Chargers will face Villa Park tonight for the tournament championship.

“He’s finally starting to get noticed by the four-year colleges,” El Toro Coach Dave Shoemaker said of Senik. “He was an [Sea View] all-league pick last year, and worked very hard over the summer to improve himself. He has made himself a very good player.”

“It was a good game, the type you have to play in your league,” Century Coach Greg Coombs said. “And Senik is one of the finest players I’ve seen. He’s not flashy, he just gets the job done. He does what it takes to win.”

It wasn’t simply the game-winning shot that made Senik stand out. Senik came through at just about every critical juncture for El Toro.

He scored half of the Chargers’ 12 first-quarter points. Both of his three-pointers would stem small runs by Century. And when the Centurions (10-4) took their only lead with 2:45 left to play, 45-44, on a layup by Terrail Zoller, Senik’s only basket in the fourth quarter put El Toro back in front.

The Chargers needed everything Senik had to give because Centurion guard Hector Beltran also was hot. Beltran sank seven of nine shots, mostly jumpers from around the free-throw line, and finished with 19 points.

Beltran’s final basket tied the score, 47-47, with 35 seconds left.

“We scouted him last night and he didn’t score that much,” Shoemaker said. “But he is a solid player.”

Mark Wulfemeyer and Elias Vargas each had eight points for El Toro.

Gabriel Aguirre had 14 for Century, which will play Cypress for third place.

In the other semifinal game:

Villa Park 57, Cypress 52--Eric Chenowith was a one-man show for Villa Park, scoring 35 points--10 of them in the fourth quarter--and grabbing 14 rebounds. Chad Boberg had 35 points to lead Cypress.

In the consolation games:

Aliso Niguel 78, Westminster 69--Jeff Munsell scored 22 points to lead Aliso Niguel. Westminster’s Brandon Fox had 34 points.

Anaheim 53, Oxnard Hueneme 40--Anaheim outscored Hueneme, 20-9, in the final quarter. Isaac Camarillo scored 19 points for Anaheim (3-8).

Los Amigos 57, Brethren Christian 55--John Elsaesser scored 22 points to lead Los Amigos (7-6). The Lobos built a 40-22 halftime lead and were able to hold off Brethren Christian (2-7). The Warriors outscored Los Amigos, 23-8, in the final quarter.

Sunny Hills 49, Santiago 47--Sean Granillo scored 17 points to lead Sunny Hills (5-9). The Lancers were down by two at the end of the third quarter, but were able to outscore Santiago (7-4) in the final quarter. Tony Dixon scored 17 points for the Cavaliers.