News Summary
In a closely contested CIF-SS Division 5A semifinal matchup, the Saddleback boys basketball team lost to Arroyo 60-58. The game featured outstanding performances, particularly from Saddleback’s Chris Trotter, who scored 28 points. Despite a strong team effort, including a late-game chance to win, Saddleback was unable to secure a victory. The loss concludes their playoff run, although they showcased significant improvement from previous seasons. Arroyo advances to the championship against Rosemead, who defeated South El Monte in the other semifinal.
Santa Ana – The Saddleback boys basketball team suffered a narrow defeat in the CIF-SS Division 5A semifinals, losing to Arroyo with a final score of 60-58 at Saddleback High School. The game showcased intense competition and thrilling moments, culminating in a last-second jump shot by Kamren Dorantes, which sealed the victory for Arroyo.
With this win, Arroyo improved their season record to 16-11 and will advance to face Rosemead in the championship game. Rosemead secured their spot in the finals by overcoming South El Monte with a score of 44-33 in the other semifinal matchup.
At the critical moment of the game, with only 17.5 seconds remaining, Saddleback had possession after Arroyo’s missed opportunity to take the lead. However, the Roadrunners failed to capitalize, missing both a shot and a putback attempt. This allowed Arroyo to regain possession with just 2.2 seconds left on the clock, leading to the decisive play by Dorantes.
Saddleback entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead and saw Chris Trotter rise to the occasion, scoring all 17 of his team’s points in that period. Trotter finished the game as the top scorer with a total of 28 points. Early in the fourth quarter, Johnny Vargas hit a crucial 3-pointer to tie the game at 45-45, but Trotter responded swiftly with a 3-pointer of his own to regain the lead for his team.
As the tension mounted, Trotter extended Saddleback’s lead to three points with free throws with just over three minutes remaining. The two teams then exchanged baskets, with Arroyo eventually taking a three-point lead with only 1:20 left in the game. Trotter managed to tie the game again with free throws, bringing the score to 58-58 before the dramatic finish.
Saddleback’s coach Christopher Emaguna noted the desire for a timeout to strategize before the final possession. Managed by Oscar Lopez, Arroyo’s coach, emphasized that the final shot was designed for Dorantes, who executed it flawlessly.
Despite the loss, both coaches highlighted their teams’ hard-fought performances in a highly competitive game. This season marked a significant turnaround for the Saddleback team, which had previously recorded a poor performance of 2-26 two seasons ago and 6-21 last year. This year, Saddleback entered the CIF playoffs as the fourth seed and finished second in the Orange League.
Saddleback began the game strong, leading at halftime with a score of 33-29. In the third quarter, the Roadrunners extended their lead to 41-34 before Arroyo began to close the gap. The game attracted a near-capacity crowd, with enthusiastic support from fans of both teams.
Several players made notable contributions to Saddleback’s performance. Angel Soberanis scored 17 points, while Karstein George added seven points to the team’s total. Trotter reflected on the need for the team to learn from their mistakes, particularly in terms of rebounds and executing shots effectively. Soberanis also acknowledged the necessary adjustments to elevate their game after a challenging third quarter.
Following their semifinal performance, the Roadrunners look ahead to the CIF Regionals tournament, which begins after the CIF finals, continuing what has been an impressive season for Saddleback boys basketball.
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Additional Resources
- WTAQ: Green Bay Phoenix Men’s Basketball Coaching Additions
- Google Search: Saddleback basketball CIF semifinals
- OC Register: Saddleback Boys Basketball Falls in 5A Semifinals
- Google Scholar: Saddleback High School basketball
- OC Sports Zone: Saddleback Captures Decisive CIF Victory
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Basketball
