ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : It’s Showtime for Erbst in Katella Win : Victory Over Cypress Sets Up Showdown Against El Dorado

Bob Erbst scored 38 points and had a school-record 26 rebounds Wednesday night as Katella High School became one of the two leaders in the Empire League when the Knights defeated Cypress, 75-57 in the Centurion gym.

The Knights’ Friday night opponent in Anaheim, El Dorado, defeated Los Alamitos Wednesday night to help turn the four-team chase into a two-team race.

Despite the final margin of victory, the Centurions played hard and played well, but they just didn’t have the talent to keep up with the 6-foot 7-inch Erbst and teammate Richard Lucas (6-6) inside.

Cypress led early in the first quarter, 10-3, but that was before Erbst and Lucas (20 points) made their presence felt inside. The Centurions could do little to stop either player inside the foul line and that is why they fell to third place.

Erbst took control soon after, though, scoring on a variety of shots, mostly from close range. He scored often on offensive rebounds when he reached over a Cypress defender with better position and snatched the ball away.

By halftime, the Knights were ahead by 39-30, with Erbst scoring 23.

“Halftime is when we knew we had them,” Erbst said. “Our guards were getting us (forwards) the ball down low and when that happens, not too many players can stop Lucas or myself one-on-one.

“This year we weren’t really meshed (until now). I’m looking forward to Friday. (El Dorado’s) Jim Sammon and I have played together since the sixth grade. Off the court we’re great friends, but on it--look out. They’re playing in our back yard Friday.”

El Dorado, the only league team to beat Katella this season, and Katella enter Friday’s rematch with 6-1 league records and 14-3 overall.