Prep Basketball : Century League Roundup : Foothill Uses Defense to Beat Santa Ana, 46-41

Foothill High School, needing a victory to keep its league championship hopes alive, got defensive Friday night and beat Santa Ana, 46-41, in Chapman College’s Hutton Sports Center.

Foothill (12-9, 4-2) shut down Mike Zamora, Santa Ana’s 3-point specialist, to claim its second victory of the season against Santa Ana. Zamora, averaging 15.5 points per game, was limited to 6 points.

Santa Ana (16-6, 4-2) scored only 4 points in the third quarter and lost a 20-16 halftime lead. Guard Ward Van Pelt’s 3-point shot with 3 seconds remaining in the third quarter gave Foothill a 32-24 lead and Santa Ana never recovered.

Foothill’s defensive game plan was simple: Put the pressure on the wings were Zamora likes to operate. The Knights extended their matchup zone to the 19-foot 9-inch line, and Zamora made only 2 of 9 shots.

Foothill scored 10 unanswered points in the final 5:05 of the third quarter as Santa Ana repeatedly had problems getting the ball inside to forwards Oscar Wilson and Chauncy Woolridge or outside to Zamora.

Santa Ana committed 11 turnovers in the second half and frequently threw soft, lazy passes that became easy turnovers. Greg Coombs, Santa Ana coach, credited Foothill’s defense for turning the game around.

“We were going side to side to side, which meant they could keep the pressure on Zamora outside and deny him the ball,” he said. “That was the best defensive job any team has done on us all year.”

Foothill wrapped up the victory with 45 seconds left when guard Corey Parker drove the lane and was fouled by Wilson. Parker made the shot, added a free throw for a 46-39 lead and Wilson fouled out.

“The biggest single play of the game,” Reames said. “I thought we played real good defense in the second half. We worked all week on putting the pressure on the wing.

“At halftime, we talked about playing aggressive defense and getting quicker ball movement on offense. Our defensive play got our offense going.”

The score was tied 8 times in the first half with the lead changing hands 5 times, and it appeared the game was going to follow the form of the teams’ two previous meetings this season.

Santa Ana beat Foothill, 43-37, in overtime in the Irvine World News tournament and then Foothill beat Santa Ana, 49-47, in double overtime to open league play.

El Modena 71, Canyon 57--Forward Robbie Pietsch scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half as El Modena (16-5, 5-1) moved into sole possession of first place in the league.

Pietsch made 7 of 10 shots in the second half, including 4 in a row in the third quarter when El Modena outscored Canyon, 19-13.

Santa Ana Valley 63, Villa Park 53--Guard Chuck Steen made 4 free throws in the final minute and Santa Ana Valley (11-8, 3-3) stopped a 3-game losing streak.

Forward Brian Singleton led Santa Ana Valley with 18 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out with 6:29 to play. Center Chris Johnson scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Villa Park (9-11, 1-5).