Upset Specials

Barry Faulkner

Visiting Estancia High “roled” to a 69-61 Golden West League boys

basketball upset win over Santa Ana Tuesday.

All eight Eagles who played executed their roles to the utter

satisfaction of Coach Chris Sorce, whose team improved to 15-8, 5-4

in league, moving to within a half game of the third-place Saints

(12-9, 5-3) and just one game back of second-place Orange (6-3 in

league).

“We needed this,” said senior point guard Matt Cachola who hit 10

of 10 free throws and added a team-high seven assists.

Senior center Joey Lindquist hit 11 of 12 field-goal attempts to

finish with a team- and career-high-tying 25 points, while junior

Carlos Pinto popped for 21 points. Lindquist had 13 rebounds and

Pinto 11.

Seniors Zack Novak and Erik Andersen took turns blanketing Santa

Ana senior Brandon McGee in a box-and-one scheme, holding him to a

season-low seven points on 3-of-15 shooting, including 1 of 7 from

three-point range. McGee scored 34, including one of his eight

three-pointers with one second left, to key a 64-62 Santa Ana win

Jan. 10 at Estancia.

Jordan Stroman had seven points and five rebounds in a starting

role, while Tyler Hoffman and Scott Sankey added valuable moments off

the bench for the winners, who visit crosstown rival Costa Mesa

Thursday.

Estancia led, 36-26, after a first half that included 10 lead

changes and the Saints got no closer than four from then on.

With the 6-foot-8 Lindquist dominating inside, Estancia hit half

of its 46 field-goal tries, while hitting 22 of 33 foul shots.

“We executed the plan on defense, with Zack and Erik working their

butts off, and we were patient on offense,” Sorce said.

“(The Saints) had no answer for Joey inside. This is as good a

team win as you can have, because all eight kids performed their

roles.”

Santa Ana was 25 of 54 from the field (46.3%) and just 3 of 5 from

the foul line.