Keane’s Return Sparks Santa Margarita, 62-56

Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk might have best summarized the Eagles’ Sea View League matchup with Woodbridge.

“Dennis Keane on one leg is pretty good, isn’t he?” DeBusk said.

Playing in only his third game since returning from arthroscopic surgery, Keane scored 20 points and was the catalyst in No. 6 Santa Margarita’s 62-56 victory over Woodbridge, Friday night at Santa Margarita High.

Keane, who was sidelined 11 games after injuring his left knee early in the season, said he hoped he’d be at full strength for Friday’s game.

“I came back last week at about 85%,” said Keane, who scored in single digits his first two games back. “My goal was to be 100% for this game. Tonight, it was close to 100%.”

Chris Burgess, who finished with 33 points and 11 rebounds, tried to single-handedly keep fourth-ranked Woodbridge (14-5, 1-1) in the game.

Burgess scored 19 of Woodbridge’s first 23 points and was the only Warrior to score during a 15-minute stretch that began midway through the first quarter.

Woodbridge trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but guard William Stovall brought the Warriors back at the end of the third quarter. Stovall scored 12 consecutive points to pull Woodbridge within one, and Burgess made two free throws with 4:24 remaining to give Woodbridge a 48-47 lead.

“We were down by 12 and had a one-point lead in the fourth quarter,” Woodbridge Coach John Halagan said. “There’s a very fine line between winning and losing. We crossed that line tonight.”

After Woodbridge took its one-point lead, Santa Margarita’s Scott Balo sank a 14-footer on the Eagles’ next possession and Matt Pohlson made a three-pointer to reestablish control.

Allen Krist had 25 points and 12 rebounds going head-to-head with Burgess. Stovall finished with 16 points for the Warriors.

Santa Margarita improved to 12-4, 2-0 in league.