Eagles survive a scare, 65-49

Barry Faulkner

Both schools and their fans took away a funny story from

Wednesday’s Golden West League League boys basketball game between

Saddleback High and host Estancia. But the Eagles, and coach Chris

Sorce, earned the added benefit of a victory, rallying from a

halftime deficit to claim a 65-49 verdict.

The Eagles (12-4, 2-0 in league), led, 18-6, 28-16 and 32-22, the

latter with 4:43 remaining in the opening half.

But Saddleback (5-8, 0-2) finished the half with a 14-2 run to

claim a surprising 36-34 advantage.

Estancia senior Zack Novak drilled a three-pointer and a layup to

trigger a 7-0 run to open the third quarter and, by the time

Saddleback had its first field goal of the third quarter, with 1:15

remaining, the Eagles had, once again, pushed the lead back to double

digits.

The comedy routine came with 2:10 remaining, when Saddleback was

called for a foul in the backcourt. Forward Carlos Pinto, not guard

Matt Cachola who had been fouled, went to the line for the Eagles.

Pinto sank the first of a double-bonus situation, but referees,

conceding they had the wrong shooter, ordered the point taken off the

scoreboard. But instead of replacing Pinto with Cachola, and despite

the shouted protests of Saddleback Coach Tim Mesenhimer, the

officials allowed Pinto to shoot again. Pinto sank the first, as some

spectators broke into laughter over the repeated oversight. Not only

was the free throw allowed to stand, Pinto was handed the ball for a

second attempt, which was nullified one official, perhaps trying to

mitigate the damage, called a lane violation on the Eagles.

The free-throw line was good to the Eagles in the final period,

when they made 16 of 24 attempts. Jordan Stroman’s layin with three

seconds left was the hosts’ lone fourth-quarter field goal, but the

Roadrunners, just 3 of 28 from the field in the second half (10.7%),

never got closer than five.

Pinto matched Novak for team-high scoring honors with 13, while

Joey Lindquist added 11 and Cachola and Tyler Hoffman each chipped in

nine for the winners, who hope to maintain their Golden West League

lead when they host Santa Ana Friday at 7 p.m.