Sonora Tops Troy After 3 Overtimes

If there’s one thing Sonora enjoys more than winning the Freeway League title--and the Raiders have won or shared six in a row--it’s beating rival Troy.

But few victories have taken longer for Sonora than the three overtimes it took Friday to beat the visiting Warriors, 61-55, before a standing-room only crowd.

Reserve forward Robert Abreu, playing because starter Marqui Worthy had fouled out, finally decided the contest, scoring the first seven points in the third overtime on three baskets and a free throw. They were the only points in the game for Abreu, who also had three rebounds and a key steal in the final overtime.

“I figured after the second overtime someone else had to step up,” Abreu said. “We had been calling plays for the guys we wanted to make the big shots but they weren’t falling for them. So I told myself to be aggressive on the boards and take the ball up strong.”

Sonora Coach Mike Murphy said afterward he had a premonition about Abreu’s heroics.

“I told Robert before the game I had a feeling he was going to do something big tonight and rarely are my feelings wrong,” Murphy said.

“This was probably the most interesting game I’ve been a part of for a long time. There were three times I thought we were out of it, and a half-dozen times I thought we had it. There was so much ebb and flow.”

Interesting was not one of the words T.J. Hardeman used after the game. The Troy coach was still steamed at an intentional foul called on guard Jerry Inzunza with 1.6 seconds to play in regulation and Troy ahead, 41-40. Sonora guard Bim Okinrimboye made one of the two free throws, forcing the overtime.

“The officiating screwed us tonight and you can quote me,” Hardeman said. “Change that. Say Coach Hardeman thought the officiating was wonderful.”

It was a crucial victory for Sonora (17-5, 5-0) after beating its other Freeway pursuer Buena Park at home early in the week. The Raiders are the league’s only unbeaten team and have a two-game lead over Troy (12-8, 3-2), who shared last year’s league title with them.

Sonora guard Curtis Levine led all scorers with 20 points.

In other Freeway League games:

Buena Park 51, Sunny Hills 48--Buena Park’s DeAndre Gipson made two free throws with 11 seconds remaining, then Sunny Hills missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the host Coyotes (16-5, 4-1) the victory. Jaamal Allen scored 16 points for Buena Park.

La Habra 71, Fullerton 35--Nathan Allard scored 13 points and Adam Provence had 12 for La Habra (9-9, 2-3). Fullerton is 5-14, 1-4.