ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : Boys’ Roundup : Whittier Christian Wins Its 9th Straight as Brea-Olinda Falls

Whittier Christian High School’s Eric Martin scored 15 points and had 16 rebounds Tuesday night as the Heralds defeated Brea-Olinda, 65-61, in the championship game of the Brea-Olinda Tournament.

Martin, the tournament’s most valuable player, helped Whittier Christian (9-1) earn their ninth straight victory. The Wildcats are 7-5.

“Before the season, I was thinking I’d be happy with a 6-4 record at this point,” Whittier Christian Coach Bill Cuccia said. “But to be 9-1 is really incredible.”

Rick Jones, Brea coach, was impressed by the Heralds.

“They’re a really good team,” he said. “Nobody else in (the Southern Section) the 1-A division is going to touch them.”

Martin, a 6-foot 4-inch junior center, led a balanced attack as four Herald players scored in double figures.

Leading by seven points after three quarters, the Heralds scored three quick baskets for a 60-47 lead with 5:54 left. The Wildcats responded with full-court pressure and pulled to withing three points, 64-61, with 2:19 remaining.

With 23 seconds left, Brea missed three straight shots from under the basket and Herald guard Chris Martin, Eric’s brother, was fouled.

Martin made the first of a one-and-one to make it 65-61 and clinch the victory.

The Wildcats were led by Ron Thomas, who finished with 20 points. However, only four came in the second half.

Gary Chiotti added 17 points for Brea, and Bob Terry had 14.

Mike Goodcase had 14 for Whittier Christian, Chris Sky had 12 and Doug Newby had 11.

In other Brea-Olinda Tournament games:

El Dorado 74, Sunny Hills 70--Chris Facione and Mike Renaud each scored 15 points to lead the Hawks (4-6) over the Lancers (8-5) in the third-place game. Sunny Hills’ Chris Drakos led all scorers with 21.

Hacienda Heights Wilson 69, La Habra 52--Neil Weingarten scored 14 points, Damon Owens 13 and Anthony Delsi 12 to lead the Wildcats in the seventh-place game. Bob Small led La Habra with 11.

In the Canyon Tournament:

Canyon 51, Villa Park 39--David Jones scored 17 points and Ralph Pachecho scored 13 to lead the Comanchees (3-5) to the championship. Chris Storck led Villa Park with 15 points.

Trabuco Hills 66, Anaheim 40--The Mustangs outscored Anaheim, 13-4, late in the third quarter to win the consolation championship.

John Welch led Trabuco Hills with 19 points and Gordon McNeill added 17. Keith Liufau led Anaheim (2-9) with 18.

In the Santiago Tournament:

Buena Park 75, Santiago 58--Gary Hunter scored 27 points and Mike Toscano added 13 for the Coyotes in a first-round game.

Buena Park, which led, 18-4, after the first quarter, will play Valencia for the tournament championship Saturday night at 8:30.

Valencia 55, Burbank 41--Center Dennis Burbank scored 25 points to lead the Tigers in the first round.

In the Walter Wong Tournament in Honolulu:

Marina 88, Honolulu Iolani 55--Mike Meyers scored 16 points, Matt Hattabaugh 14 and Steve Guild 12 to lead the Vikings to the championship Monday night.

In the Atascadero Tournament:

Santa Maria 68, Garden Grove 61 (3 OT)--Despite 19 points from Octavio Contreres and 17 points and 16 rebounds from Jeff Finch, the Argonauts lost to Santa Maria in a quarterfinal game at Atascadero High School. Robert Khayam and Jason Lovera each scored 15 points to lead Santa Maria.