Chaminade Victory Over Ganesha Is a Tall Order

WEST HILLS —  In between biting his nails and looking miserable sitting on the bench Wednesday night, Scott Borchart of Chaminade High pleaded with his coach, Jeff Young, to let him play in the Southern Section Division III-AA playoff opener against Ganesha.

“He told me two or three times, ‘Coach, can I go in?’ No way,” Young said.

With Borchart stuck on the sideline because of a sprained ankle, the Eagles turned to two seniors to pull out a 71-67 overtime victory at Chaminade.

Jordan O’Gilvie tied a school record with 35 points and Jeff Hufford had 11 points and 10 rebounds to propel the Eagles (18-8) into a second-round game against Ridgecrest Burroughs on Friday night at Burroughs.

No one was more relieved than the 6-foot-9 Borchart, Chaminade’s all-time scoring leader who desperately didn’t want his high school career to end without being able to contribute.

Borchart sprained his ankle during a Feb. 2 game against Harvard-Westlake. He came off crutches last week and suited up Wednesday night even though Young made it clear he wasn’t going to jeopardize Borchart’s future.

Young placed his trust in O’Gilvie and Hufford.

“We all had to step up,” O’Gilvie said. “It’s playoffs--you have to play big.”

Added Hufford: “There was a real motivation factor to get one more game [for Borchart].”

The game started one hour late because Ganesha’s bus was stuck in traffic leaving Pomona and the Giants arrived late.

Chaminade led by 18 points early in the third quarter, but Ganesha (15-13) rallied to take the lead with under three minutes to play.

O’Gilvie tied the score, 57-57, with 40 seconds left by making a three-pointer.

Hufford just missed winning the game in regulation when his three-pointer at the buzzer went in and out.

O’Gilvie made four consecutive free throws, Hufford connected on a three-pointer and sophomore Dion Cook scored four points to lead the Eagles in overtime.

Chris Reaves scored 22 points and Franklin Ike had 21 for Ganesha.

It was surprising that the 6-4 Hufford made it through the night. His day started with a 6 a.m. physics lab.

And he was headed home late Wednesday to do homework.

“I’m a little tired,” he said.

Hufford is known for his hustle and intelligent play. He picked up those qualities from his father, Gary, who played at Reseda High with Gary Franklin and Greg Lee and on UCLA’s 1971 freshman team.

Borchart can thank Hufford and O’Gilvie for a second chance.

He’ll be ready to play Friday.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD

Southern Section

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Wild-card round

Division I-AA

Palmdale 55, Century 51

Division I-A

Simi Valley 70, Foothill 61

Ventura 52, Katella 51

Division IV-AA

Morro Bay 82, Paraclete 63

Division IV-A

L.A. Baptist 59, Loma Linda Academy 45

First round

Division II-A

Dos Pueblos 69, Newbury Park 62

Division III-AA

Bassett 49, Nordhoff 47

La Canada 79, Covina 68

Santa Paula 73, Morningside 71

Chaminade 71, Ganesha 67

Banning 71, St. Francis 63

Division V-AA

Oakwood 62, St. Margaret’s 55

Serra 81, Bell-Jeff 64

Whitewater 88, Armenian General 49

Thacher 66, La Verne Lutheran 49

Boys’ Republic 69, Holy Martyrs 58

Montclair Prep 56, LA Lutheran 28

Flintridge Prep 74, Laguna Blanca 39

Lancaster Desert Christian 69, Fairmont 56

Valley Torah 63, Villanova Prep 34

Pasadena Poly 70, Grace Brethren 56

Division V-A

Price 111, Santa Clarita Christian 42

Tarbut Valley Torah 65, Trinity Lutheran 34

Stoneridge Prep 97, Skyward Christian 38

Thousand Oaks H.C. 56, Newbury Park Adven. 49

Antelope Vly Chr. 70, Redlands Calvary Chapel 47

FRIDAY’S MATCHUPS

Games start at 7:30 p.m.

First round

Division I-AAA

Highland at Long Beach Jordan

Lakewood at Oxnard

Division I-AA

Palmdale at Irvine University

Camarillo at Quartz Hill

Hart at Thousand Oaks

Marina at Crescenta Valley

Loyola at Valencia

Division I-A

Buena at Lancaster

Simi Valley at Canyon

Rio Mesa at California

Saugus at Perris

Ventura at Corona Centennial

Division II-AA

Westlake at La Serna

Moorpark at Paso Robles

Pasadena at Agoura

Division IV-AA

Big Bear/Kern Valley at Crespi

Oak Park at Murphy

Morro Bay at St. Bonaventure

Division IV-A

St. Bernard at Providence

City Section

Games start at 7:30 p.m.

First round

Championship division

Grant at Taft

North Hollywood at Fremont

Sylmar at Washington

Chatsworth at Fairfax

Invitational division

Kennedy at L.A. Jordan

Hamilton at Granada Hills

Jefferson at Birmingham

Reseda at Canoga Park

Monroe at Narbonne