Holton’s 17-Footer Is the Difference in Loara’s Victory

Loara’s Trevor Holton hit a 17-foot shot with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter to clinch a 64-62 victory over Esperanza in the first round of the National Sports Grill boys’ basketball tournament Monday at Loara.

Holton’s shot gave Loara a 64-60 lead. Esperanza rallied from a 53-41 deficit going into the fourth but missed a shot at the buzzer. Esperanza’s Patrick Lefler had 17 points and Jonathon Steven 16.

Herbert Garcia scored 13 points for Loara (1-0).

In another tournament game:

Woodbridge 72, Lakewood 38--Brent Weiss scored 18 points and Josh Burgess had 12 to lead Woodbridge (1-0) in the first round.

In the Bolsa Grande tournament:

Bolsa Grande 68, Santa Ana Valley 51--John James scored 27 points, 17 of those in the second half, and had 17 rebounds to lead Bolsa Grande.

Katella 61, Savanna 57--Katella was able to hold off a fourth-quarter charge by Savanna for the first-round victory. Robert Abercrombie had 22 points for Katella.

Simon Brown had a game-high 28 points for Savanna.

In the Buena Park tournament:

Buena Park 68, Rancho Alamitos 57--Willie Montgomery scored 13 points for Rancho Alamitos, which blew a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Deandre Gibson scored 23 points for Buena Park.

In the Orangewood Academy tournament:

Orangewood 61, Banning Twin Pines 30--Starly Alverado scored 28 points for Orangewood.

In nonleague games:

Fountain Valley 72, Tustin 65 (OT)--Guard Ryan Moreau scored 31 points including eight in overtime for host Fountain Valley. Jeff Greenfield (10 points) made a basket with 10 seconds in regulation to tie the score, 58-58.

In nonleague girls’ basketball:

Aliso Niguel 44, Mission Viejo 40--Aliso Niguel (1-0) squeaked by Mission Viejo (0-1) with help from Tara Mutukisna, who scored 26 points.

Mission Viejo’s Erin O’Donnell led her team with 12 points.

In nonleague boys’ soccer:

Aliso Niguel 2, Mater Dei 0--Thomas Corwin and Brock Schermerhorn scored second-half goals to lead Aliso Niguel.

Brea Olinda 3, Dana Hills 2--Josh Alexander scored Brea Olinda’s game-winning goal at the 60th minute.

Cypress 1, Rancho Alamitos 0--Eddie Kirshner scored for Cypress (1-0) on a free kick in the 65th minute.

El Modena 2, San Clemente 1--Francisco Barajas scored his second goal of the game in the second half to lift El Modena (1-0). Armando Reyes had the assist.

El Toro 0, Estancia 0--Estancia had 15 shots on goal, but couldn’t get one past Cameron Rossi, who made 10 saves for El Toro.

Rossi started in place of Josh Saunders, who injured his ankle at the Nomad Cup soccer tournament in San Diego over the weekend.

Kennedy 3, Western 1--Brad Stear had two goals and Alvin Alvarez added one to lead Kennedy (1-0).

Santa Ana 2, Santiago 0--Maria Patino and Luz Annue each scored a goal for Santa Ana.

Westminster 2, Montclair 0--Westminster scored second-half goals by Isreal Gimenez and Robert Pasiley. John Gump assisted on Pasiley’s goal.

In nonleague girls’ soccer:

Corona del Mar 1, University 0--Kelly Halley kicked in Kate Simon’s header in the 20th minute and Britta Vogle made six saves to lead Corona del Mar (1-0).