Santa Ana Finishes Championship Run

Santa Ana, which has won with a devastating transition game all season, completed its sprint to the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball championship Friday with a 97-88 victory over host Fullerton in the final game of the regular season.

The Dons (25-6, 11-3 in conference) were helped by solid outside shooting in the second half as they won their second title in three seasons. It is the first for Coach Ray Rodriguez.

Santa Ana made eight of 13 three-pointers in the second half, led by sophomore Mark Wulfemeyer, who had four in seven tries.

Santa Ana led, 49-41, at the half but Fullerton rallied for a 56-53 lead seven minutes into the second half.

But from that point, six of Santa Ana’s next nine baskets were three-pointers and the Dons pushed the lead to as many as 12.

Fullerton got as close as five (91-86) when Levar Grace made two free throws with 21 seconds left, but Herbert Gracia made two free throws and Wulfemeyer added four free throws for Santa Ana.

Wulfemeyer finished with 20 points, 18 in the second half. “Coach called a few more plays for me,” Wulfemeyer said about the second half, “and I decided to step up and help this team win a championship. I really wanted it. I didn’t win one in high school.”

Santa Ana sophomore forward Greg Gray made 10 of 15 shots and finished with 25 points. Gray scored 90 points in his final three conference games.

Gracia scored 15, Zac Fray 14 and Joe Nichols 11 for Santa Ana, which finished a game ahead of Saddleback and Riverside.

Chris Smith had 23 points for Fullerton (17-14, 7-7).