News Summary
In a nail-biting CIF-SS Division 5A semifinal, the Saddleback boys basketball team narrowly lost to Arroyo with a final score of 60-58. Kamren Dorantes secured the win for Arroyo with a last-second jump shot, knocking Saddleback out of the championship contention. Despite a strong performance from Chris Trotter, who scored 28 points, the Roadrunners were unable to clinch victory due to missed opportunities and defensive lapses. Arroyo moves on to face Rosemead in the finals, marking a promising season turnaround for Saddleback.
Santa Ana, CA – The Saddleback boys basketball team suffered a narrow defeat to Arroyo, losing 60-58 in the CIF-SS Division 5A semifinals played at Saddleback High School. The game concluded with a jump shot by Kamren Dorantes just inside the 3-point line, scored with fractions of a second remaining on the clock, sealing Arroyo’s victory and making them the champions of the semifinal match.
With this win, Arroyo improved their season record to 16-11 and is set to face Rosemead in the championship game, which will take place on either February 28 or March 1 at a location yet to be determined. Rosemead earned its spot in the finals by defeating South El Monte 44-33 in the other Division 5 semifinal.
In a tightly contested match, the score was tied at 58-58 before Saddleback’s final possession. With only 17.5 seconds left on the clock, the Roadrunners had a chance to pull ahead but missed both their initial and putback shot attempts. Arroyo regained possession with 2.2 seconds remaining, allowing Dorantes to make the decisive shot while being guarded by Saddleback’s Chris Trotter.
Trotter had a stellar performance, scoring all 17 of the Roadrunners’ points during the fourth quarter and finishing the game with a total of 28 points, which was the highest of any player on the court. Despite his efforts, Trotter noted that the team struggled with boxing out and making crucial shots in the closing moments of the game.
The Roadrunners entered the fourth quarter with a slim two-point advantage. The final period began with Johnny Vargas hitting a 3-pointer that tied the game at 45-45. Trotter responded quickly with a 3-pointer of his own, regaining the lead for Saddleback. Following several exchanges of baskets, Vargas and Dorantes each sank 3-pointers, giving Arroyo a crucial three-point lead later in the quarter.
After a back-and-forth battle, Trotter eased the pressure by making two free throws that tied the game again late in the fourth. However, the Roadrunners’ inability to secure defensive rebounds and capitalize on their offensive opportunities became a critical factor leading to their defeat.
Saddleback’s head coach, Christopher Emaguna, expressed disappointment over not being able to call a timeout during their final possession to regroup the players. In contrast, Arroyo’s coach, Oscar Lopez, stated that the game-winning shot was intentionally designed for Dorantes, commending him for managing his nerves to execute the decisive play effectively despite earlier struggles in the game.
This season marked a significant turnaround for the Saddleback Roadrunners, who experienced a sharp decline from a previous year’s record of 6-21 and a dismal 2-26 record the year before. They finished second in the Orange League and entered the playoffs as the fourth seed, highlighting a remarkable improvement in their overall performance and competitiveness on the court.
Although the loss was hard-fought, the Roadrunners can reflect on a season filled with growth and promise for future competitions.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: Saddleback Boys Basketball Falls in 5A Semifinals
- OC Sports Zone: Saddleback Enjoys Big Turnaround
- MaxPreps: Saddleback Roadrunners vs. Bolsa Grande Matadors Preview
- OC Register: Boys Basketball Roundup
- Lariat News: Saddleback Basketball Look to Build on Strong Season
- Wikipedia: Basketball
- Google Search: CIF SS Basketball Playoffs
- Google Scholar: Basketball Strategy
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Basketball
- Google News: High School Basketball
