Sonora Topples Troy, Race Tied

Fourth-ranked Sonora tied Troy at the top of the Freeway League boys’ basketball standings Wednesday by beating the Warriors, 76-62, at Sonora. Assuming both teams win Friday, they will finish with 9-1 league records.

It was Troy’s season-long goal to take league title Sonora has held the last five years. But the fifth-ranked Warriors, who fell behind in the first quarter, 19-4, had to spend quite a bit of energy catching up. By the fourth quarter, the will and the legs were gone and Sonora (21-4, 8-1) pulled away.

As is common with big games, the stars neutralized each other while the role players made decisive plays. That was the case Wednesday. Troy’s Jerry Inzunza (31 points) and Sonora’s Jeff Berokoff (28 points) played to a statistical standoff; Raider forward Marqui Worthy and Warrior Scott Blake (19 each) were also a wash.

The difference came from Sonora’s Deric Hilliard, who had 14 points and five second-half rebounds, four on the offensive end. Reserve guard Gabe Garcia made both his second-half attempts, one of them a three-pointer.

“Deric is one of the most amazing athletes I’ve ever coached,” Sonora Coach Mike Murphy said. “He’s a six-foot guard who jumps well enough to guard forwards and centers inside. Just amazing.”

Troy Coach T.J. Hardeman acknowledged that Sonora’s reserves had turned the tide for good against the Warriors (19-4, 8-1). “Their not-main guys played better than our not-main guys,” Hardeman said. “We let them play free inside too much.”

But Troy chipped away at its early deficit, cutting Sonora’s lead to 19-11 after the first quarter and 36-30 at the half. When the Warriors opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 39-38 lead, they seemed ready to take control.

“We knew they’d make runs at us,” Berokoff said. “We just had to keep our poise and keep playing.”

The Raiders had one psychological edge left, however.

“We--at least I--remembered how they celebrated when they beat us [Jan. 23],” Worthy said.

Sonora got the lead back for good, 43-42, on Berokoff’s three-pointer with 4:24 left in the third quarter. And when the Raiders went on an 11-4 burst to start the fourth, the Warriors were done.

In other league games:

Buena Park 55, Sunny Hills 37--Jamall Allen scored 18 points for Buena Park (9-15, 1-8). Bim Okunrinboye led Sunny Hills (11-14, 2-7) with 11 points.

La Habra 72, Fullerton 53--Brad Egan scored 17 for La Habra (13-12, 5-4). Fullerton is 9-16, 3-6.