Spartans Send a Message With 73-39 Victory

If Friday night’s Century League opener is any indication, the Villa Park boys’ basketball team will have an easy time defending its league title.

The host Spartans, ranked fourth in Orange County, defeated Foothill, 73-39, sending a message to the rest of the league that they are definitely the team to beat.

“I think we’re beginning to become a real good basketball team,” Villa Park Coach Kevin Reynolds said. “We’re turning the corner and starting to put it together.”

Foothill (7-10) is one of three teams hoping to challenge the Spartans for the title. But the Knights weren’t much of a match for Villa Park on Friday.

Junior guard Matt MacGinnis led Villa Park (14-2 overall) in scoring with 22 points. MacGinnis made six of his first seven field-goal attempts. He wound up making seven of 11 shots in the game, including five three-pointers, and scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half to help Villa Park move out to a 36-23 halftime lead. The Spartans led 57-28 entering the fourth quarter.

“Great players play great in big games,” said Reynolds. “And he’s done it every year that he’s been with us.”

Foothill was led by junior guard Chad Bigler, who scored 17 points.

In another Century League game:

El Modena 54, Orange 45--El Modena pulled away in the fourth quarter on free throws. Blake Dodge scored 18 points, making 11 of 15 free throws.

In the Empire League:

Century 55, Cypress 53--Chris Ferretti scored 23 points, including the winning basket, for host Century (9-8, 1-0). Devin Patrick scored 20 for Cypress (10-6, 0-1).

In the Freeway League:

Sunny Hills 58, Buena Park 47--Zach De Leon scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half as Sunny Hills outscored visiting Buena Park, 40-29. Eric Hardeman had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Lancers (9-8, 1-0).

In the Garden Grove League:

Bolsa Grande 73, Pacifica 65--Will Montgomery scored 20 of his game-high 31 points in the fist half as Bolsa Grande handed Pacifica (4-11, 1-1) its first league loss in more than two years.

La Quinta 86, Santiago 72--Matt Blanchard made eight three-pointers and scored 36 points for visiting La Quinta (6-10, 2-0).

In the Golden West League:

Saddleback 48, Tustin 46--Julian Gonzalez made two free throws with 20 seconds left to win it for visiting Saddleback (3-13, 1-1). Manuel Pedroza led the Roadrunners with 14 points.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Laguna Beach 61, Corona del Mar 52--Travis Hanour scored 27 points and Chris Manker had 19 points and 15 rebounds for visiting Laguna Beach (10-6, 1-0).

Woodbridge 70, Laguna Hills 64 (2 OT)--Doug Koeller’s three-point shot for Woodbridge with seven seconds left put the game into overtime, and the Warriors’ Jon Tilton made a three-pointer to force the second overtime. Danny Lambert led the Warriors (11-7, 1-0) with 20 points, and Nick Homyak scored 19 points for Laguna Hills (10-7, 0-1).

In the South Coast League:

Mission Viejo 50, Dana Hills 46--Jon Shieh made the winning free throws with seven seconds left for Mission Viejo (10-7, 1-0).

In the Sunset League:

Huntington Beach 56, Fountain Valley 54--The Barons tied the score in the last 25 seconds, but Mark Sanders drove the length of the court to score the winning basket with two seconds left.