Canyon Gets Boost From Unsung Hogan, Beats Villa Park

Roger Hogan seemed an unlikely hero Friday night.

Hogan, a 5-11 junior guard, has played in the shadow of Canyon backcourt-mate Neil Hammad all season, but when Villa Park shut down Hammad, Hogan shocked the Spartans with a 20-point effort that led to a 57-50 Century League boys’ basketball victory.

Center Ryan Romberg had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Canyon (13-6, 5-0), but it was the grit of several unsung Comanche guards that shot down host Villa Park (14-8, 4-1) in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

“I just played my game,” Hogan said. “I didn’t think they could stop me. Neil doesn’t just score points for us. He does a lot of other things, but I just felt we had to take the game to them and that’s what I did.”

Hammad, who averages 20.8 points, finished with eight hard-earned points on two for eight shooting. He admitted he became a bit frustrated but said the victory was sweet nevertheless.

“I thought to myself, well, it’s a team game,” he said. “We really wanted this win badly. It’s like a monkey off our backs because I have lost to Villa Park ever since my freshman year.”

Villa Park, the three-time defending league champion, raced to an 18-8 lead and looked like it was going to blow out the Comanches with superior rebounding and quicker play from its guards.

But with Hammad struggling and getting bumped or shadowed any time he came near the ball, Hogan, point guard Donn Yu, reserve guard Jamal Taylor and swingman Brian Solomon slowly took charge.

Canyon took its first lead, 32-31, on a layup by Romberg off a nifty assist from Yu 1 minute 20 seconds into the third quarter.

The lead changed hands several times until Hogan’s 10-foot baseline shot with 6:15 left in the game gave Canyon the lead for good, 44-43.

Hogan extended the lead to 46-43 a minute later with a 12-footer. Hammad made it 48-43 with two free throws, but Villa Park’s Andy Olsen responded with a basket.

Back came Hogan. He fed Romberg for a turnaround jumper with 4:20 to play, then made two free throws 50 seconds later for a 52-45 lead.

Villa Park, which got 11 points from forward Adam Keith, made only 18 of 51 field-goal attempts.

“They outplayed us, plain and simple,” Villa Park Coach Kevin Reynolds said. “We rushed our shots and didn’t execute our offense.”

In other Century League games:

El Modena 61, Santa Ana Valley 53--Stephan Pervich had 22 points to lead El Modena (6-15, 1-4). Jimmy Lopez and Alex Landa each had three three-pointers for Santa Ana Valley.

Foothill 85, Orange 60--Alex Rasmussen scored the first 11 points of the game and finished with 28 points, including five three-pointers, for host Foothill (16-5, 3-2). Teammate Drew Buford had 18 points and 13 assists for the Knights.

Scott Miller scored 22 points for Orange (10-10, 2-3).