Prep Basketball : Orange League Roundup : Savanna Survives Long-Range Rally From Brea-Olinda

Defending Orange League champion Savanna High School defeated visiting Brea-Olinda, 61-55, but the Rebels had to survive a 3-point blitz by Brea in the fourth quarter Friday night.

Savanna dominated the first three quarters. In the first quarter, the Rebels connected on 5 of 12 shots, held Brea to just 2 of 9 shots, and limited 3-point specialist Keith Walker, to 2 points to end the quarter leading, 13-4.

Savanna, ranked sixth in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll, continued to play pressure man-to-man defense and patiently execute its half-court offense, taking a 24-17 halftime lead.

With less than 2 minutes to play in the third quarter, Savanna’s fast break picked apart Brea’s press. The Rebels went on an 8-point run to end the quarter with a comfortable 44-27 lead.

But with 5 minutes remaining and Savanna leading, 55-37, something happened.

Brea-Olinda dropped the bombs.

Brea began hustling away from its basket to get in 3-point range.

Brea attempted 16 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, hitting 5 en route to outscoring Savanna, 28-17, in the quarter.

It was enough to make the game exciting, but not enough for the victory.

David Dittman’s 3-pointer with about 4 minutes to play cut the lead to 15 points.

Walker, who made 3 3-pointers in the quarter, hit 1 with just less than 3 minutes to play to cut the lead to 55-43.

Matt Chamberlain hit another with 1:20 to play and Marc Shaw’s 2 free throws 7 seconds later reduced the lead to 59-50.

Mustapha Abdi scored on a fast-break layup, but Walker connected from beyond the top of the key to make the score, 61-53, with 55 seconds to play.

But Brea ran out of ammunition, missing its next 3 3-pointers.

Savanna’s Jimmy Priest, who hit 4 3-point shots in the game, led his team with 19 points. Abdi added 17.

Walker hit 7 of 21 shots to finish as the game’s leading scorer with 24 points. Teammate Matt Chamberlain added 12.

“That 3-point shot can bring you back in a hurry and Walker got hot,” Savanna Coach Tom Gregory said.

“They changed the tempo of the ballgame at the end of third quarter, they upped the tempo and I don’t think we were mentally prepared. We were in a lull.”

Magnolia 70, Valencia 55--Magnolia outscored Valencia, 22-9, in the fourth quarter to improve its record to 8-6, 2-0. Jerry Jones scored 19 points to lead the Sentinels. Richard McKee scored 17 and Jason Nester 11. Rudy Lopez led Valencia with 19 points.

Western 80, Anaheim 72 (OT)--Sam Sabbara scored 18 points to lead visiting Western. Jude Barbito made a 3-point play with 22 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime but Western (11-4, 1-1) outscored Anaheim, 9-1 in overtime.