Los Alamitos, Grgas Now Alone in First Place

Jeff Grgas, the 6-foot-8 center for Los Alamitos, out-battled Brad Keenan at the low post and finished with 21 points, leading the host Griffins to a 54-52 victory over Fountain Valley Friday night.

But it was Grgas’ two free throws with 20 seconds left that gave the Griffins (13-5, 3-0 in league) a 54-50 lead and sealed the Sunset League victory. Fountain Valley is 12-6, 2-1. Grgas had missed a pair of free throws with 1:41 left.

“I tried not to think about it,” Grgas said. “I thought of this drill we do in practice. If I miss the free throws I run, if I make them I get a drink of water.”

The victory leaves Los Alamitos the only undefeated team in the Sunset League. But even in victory Coach Steve Brooks wasn’t ready to engrave any championship trophies.

“This game was not to win or lose the league, but it put the winner in a nice position,” Brooks said. “It’s very advantageous to have the undefeated record, but by no way, means, shape or form is it ours.”

It wasn’t until the final buzzer that anyone knew who would have that advantage.

The lead changed 11 times and the score was tied four times.

Andrew Pleick, Los Alamitos’ leading scorer, played with his face protected by a plastic mask for the fifth consecutive game. He had his nose broken and missed three games this season.

The mask seemed to affect his shooting; he had only one point in the first half and finished with eight. But the Swedish standout made up for it with 10 steals and nine rebounds--five in the fourth quarter.

Ryan Moreau, who had 11 points for the Barons, made a driving left-handed layup with 1:00 left in the third quarter to give his team a 36-32 lead. But Pleick answered with a three-pointer and Grgas made an inside basket to put Los Alamitos up, 37-36, a lead the Griffins did not relinquish in the fourth.

Keenan led the Barons with 18 points.

In other league games:

Marina 65, Huntington Beach 48--Scot Austin had 17 points and 12 rebounds for host Marina (11-7, 2-1).

Esperanza 70, Edison 47--Jon Steven scored 29 points for Esperanza (2-9, 2-1).