HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

By Ben Bolch

Jan. 21, 2009 12 AM PT

GAME OF THE DAY

Santa Margarita (14-4, 2-1) at Orange Lutheran (17-3, 3-0)

Tonight at 7:30

Why it matters: Lutheran is trying to extend an eight-game winning streak while gearing up for its showdown against top-ranked Santa Ana Mater Dei on Friday. Santa Margarita, coming off a 39-point loss to the Monarchs, hopes to avoid falling to .500 in Serra League play.

TUESDAY’S RESULT

Redlands 88, No. 20 Eisenhower 84

Leading contributors: Nate Fultz had 22 points to lead five Redlands players in double figures. Matt Green and Ricky Peetz scored 16 points apiece for the Terriers and Peetz had five assists and three steals. Andrew Bock had 32 points for Eisenhower.

The scoop: Trailing by nine at halftime, Eisenhower closed to within 53-51 in the third quarter before Redlands pulled away.

Why it matters: Redlands’ fourth victory in its last five games against Eisenhower leaves it as the lone unbeaten team in the Citrus Belt League and solidifies its playoff stock in Division I-AA. “It’s a big step for us,” Terriers Coach Brad Scott said. “For our kids, it’s a great confidence boost that we can play with anyone in Southern California.”

Records: Eisenhower 16-3, 5-1, Redlands 16-2, 6-0.

On latimes.com: Mater Dei, with a 19-0 record, tops the girls’ basketball rankings.

High School Sports

Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

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