Verzani Puts Villa Park Over the Top
Alan Verzani had 24 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocked shots to lead ninth-ranked Villa Park to a 60-39 victory over Foothill Wednesday, clinching the Spartans’ third consecutive Century League title.
Villa Park (18-6, 8-1), which is 27-2 in league over the last three years, outscored Foothill 18-4 in the first quarter and never faltered, holding Foothill leading scorer Larry Cambra to eight points.
Adam Keith scored 11 points and had nine rebounds and Alex Will had 10 points for Villa Park. Foothill is 9-16, 4-5.
In other Century League games:
Canyon 56, El Modena 49--Drew Gaulden scored 22 points for Canyon (17-8, 4-5). Teammate Neil Hammad scored 11 points for the Comanches.
Santa Ana Valley 58, Orange 48--Ralph Farias scored 14 points and Jason Law had 13 for Santa Ana Valley (8-16, 4-5), which led 18-5 after the first quarter.
In the Arrowhead League:
Southern California Christian 75, Hemet Hamilton 74 (OT)--Jerome Metz made one of two free throws with less than 30 seconds remaining in overtime for SCC. Chad White scored 33 points and Sang Lee had 14.
In the Empire League:
Century 48, No. 7 Katella 36--Century scored the first 11 points of the game and went on to upset Katella. Terrail Zoller scored seven of his 17 points in the opening run. He finished with 10 rebounds.
Katella (21-4, 6-3), which fell into a tie for first with Loara, cut the deficit to four with about five minutes remaining.
El Dorado 51, Kennedy 43--Mike Gartner scored seven of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to help Kennedy (13-12, 4-5) hold onto its lead. Kennedy falls to 16-9, 4-5.
Loara 42, Cypress 41--Brian Brennan made two free throws with 48 seconds remaining to give Loara (19-6, 6-3) a three-point lead. Bill Curry’s basket at the buzzer for Cypress (7-16, 2-7) cut the lead to one.
In the Golden West League:
No. 3 Servite 56, No. 10 Tustin 36--Steve Shea had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Ryan Bulatao scored 10 points for Servite (20-5, 8-1).
No. 1 Ocean View 68, Santa Ana 23--David Hatch scored 12 points for host Ocean View. Kevin Hanson had 10 points for the Seahawks (20-4, 9-0), who cliched a share of the league title.
Saddleback 73, Westminster 44--Derrick Barnes had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Alex Toland had 18 points for the Roadrunners (8-16, 3-8).
In the Orange League:
No. 8 Magnolia 78, Valencia 62--Magnolia tied a school record with its 21st victory and earned at least a share of the league title. Zamiro Bennem had 23 points and 10 assists and Anthony Zaragoza had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Magnolia (21-4, 8-1).
In the Pacific Coast League:
Estancia 52, Laguna Beach 47-- Sam Nelson scored 20 points and James Dawkins 11 for Estancia (17-8, 6-3).
Laguna Hills 68, Costa Mesa 56--Bill Rietkerk scored 21 points and had nine rebounds as Laguna Hills (20-5, 7-2) wrapped up a share of the league title.
University 98, Aliso Niguel 92--Aliso Niguel led 74-64 at the end of the third quarter, but Jeff Groendal scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth as University (14-9, 6-3) outscored the Wolverines, 34-18. Groendal put University up, 82-80, with a three-pointer.
Eric Palmer led University, which clinched a playoff spot, with 24 points, including five three-pointers. Justin Hunt scored 20.
In the Sea View League:
No. 2 Santa Margarita 71, Corona del Mar 34--Jake Rohe and Ryan Forehan-Kelly each scored 17 points for Santa Margarita (23-2, 8-1), which clinched sole possession of the league title.
Newport Harbor 65, Woodbridge 61--Woodbridge led, 51-45, going into fourth quarter, but Matt Jameson had eight of his 18 points in the fourth to help Newport Harbor (17-8, 6-3) rally. Scott Adam Hearlson led the Sailors with 17 points.
In the South Coast League:
Capistrano Valley 62, San Clemente 57--The Cougars clinched at least a share of the league title. With four minutes remaining, Capistrano Valley (18-7, 7-2) trailed by four, but rallied. Ryan Badrtalei led the Cougars with 17 points and seven rebounds and Mike Stowell scored 16 points.
Semaj Johnson scored 24 points for San Clemente (12-12, 3-6).
Mater Dei 86, Trabuco Hills 76--Mike Bayer scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half and Mater Dei (17-7, 6-3) overcame a nine-point halftime deficit. Ryan Webster scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half for Trabuco Hills (13-12, 4-5).
Dana Hills 60, Mission Viejo 42--Tim McKee scored 17 points and Brett Nowell had 14 points for the Dolphins (13-12, 6-3).