SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Santa Ana Edges Saddleback at Line

Santa Ana and Saddleback high schools’ basketball teams shot 57 free throws in their qualifying-round game in the Division I-AA playoffs Tuesday night, so it was appropriate that a foul shot by Santa Ana’s Bill Johnson with eight seconds remaining would give the Saints a 62-61 victory at Santa Ana High.

After Saddleback’s Acua Grimes made a 25-foot three-pointer to tie the score at 61 with 22 seconds left, Santa Ana (14-11) worked the ball inside, where Johnson drew a foul while following his own miss.

Johnson calmly sank the first free throw but missed the second. Saddleback’s Devon Davis grabbed the rebound and called timeout.

The Roadrunners had to settle for an off-balance jumper from the top of the key by Davis, their reserve center, with the ball bouncing off the back of the rim at the buzzer.

Santa Ana advances to the first round of the playoffs, where it will face host Hawthorne (12-11). Saddleback ends its season at 10-16.

If the Saints are going to advance beyond Friday’s game, they will need another great performance from senior center Chauncey Woolridge. Woolridge scored 28 points, 16 in the second half, and had 17 rebounds.

He also anchored the team’s defense by blocking three shots and holding Saddleback’s high-scoring center, Jason Register, without a field goal. Register finished with three points and fouled out with three minutes to play.

Vince Chaverst led Saddleback with 16 points, and Hector Aguayo added 14 points and 11 rebounds.