Santa Ana Valley Outlasts Orange

Orange called it a missed opportunity. Santa Ana Valley called it a gut check. Either way, Friday’s Century League boys’ basketball game in front of 1,000 at Orange High produced a gut-wrenching result for everyone.

Santa Ana Valley outlasted Orange, 57-54, to improve to 10-6, 3-0 in league. Ike Harmon (23 points) and Olujimi Mann (22 points) led the Falcons, but it wasn’t easy.

Orange (9-9, 1-2) led by as many as six in the fourth quarter and the score was tied, 54-54, with 1 1/2 minutes remaining.

Mann made a leaning jumper in the lane with one minute remaining to give the Falcons a 56-54 lead, but he fouled out on an offensive foul 20 seconds later. Although Santa Ana Valley’s Tim Werdel added one free throw with 10 seconds remaining, Orange still had two good chances to take the lead or tie it in the closing moments.

“We got the shots we wanted,” Orange Coach Richard Bossenmeyer said, “but we just didn’t knock down those clutch shots or some key free throws down the stretch. That was the difference.”

Orange missed its last six shots from the field and three of its last four free throws. Still, the undermanned Panthers were in it until the end.

“Orange has a tremendous home-court advantage here,” Santa Ana Valley Coach Kevin Stipp said. “Tonight we played our tightest game this season, in the toughest place, but we got it done.”

Although fans and Arizona State Coach Bill Frieder packed the gymnasium to see the talent-laden Falcons, Orange took control of the game early.

Juan Dotson, who had 24 points, scored 16 of his team’s first 26 points, helping the Panthers take a 26-20 lead midway through the second quarter.

Holman Paz had seven assists and Brian Krauss had seven second-half points, including two three-pointers, to keep Orange close, but the Panthers couldn’t stop Mann and Harmon.

And Stipp was also pleased at how the Falcons closed out the victory without Mann.

“When ‘Looj [Mann] fouled out, we could have folded right there . . . and we have before,” Stipp said. “It came down to pride and all of the guys stepped up.”

In another league game:

Villa Park 76, Foothill 38--Mark Saukkola made five three-pointers and scored a career-high 26 points for Villa Park (14-3, 3-0). Mike Vogeding scored 17 points, stepping in for Eric Chenowith, who was in foul trouble.