BOYS’ BASKETBALL ORANGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC : Esperanza Comes Close, but Mater Dei Prevails

Esperanza Coach Mark Hill will probably hold an extensive free-throw practice session today. Because it was free-throw shooting that kept second-ranked Esperanza from knocking off top-ranked Mater Dei Thursday in the Orange Holiday Classic championship semifinals at Chapman University.

The Aztecs did everything else to earn an upset. They forced Mater Dei to play at a pace slower than the holiday mail. Their aggressive 1-2-2 zone alternately trapped and ultimately extended the Monarchs to shooting from farther out than they liked.

But it wasn’t enough to defeat Mater Dei, which never trailed after midway through the first quarter, and pulled out a 44-41 victory. Mater Dei (13-1) plays the Tustin-Orange winner on Saturday. Esperanza (12-2) plays the loser for third place

Tom Lippold led Mater Dei with 17 points and picked up 10 rebounds. Josh Greer was the top Aztec with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Thursday’s contest was a total grind out affair. Each team shot only 33% from the field; Mater Dei was 13 of 39, while Esperanza was 14 of 42 (including 7 of 22 from three-point range).

The second quarter was the game in a nutshell. In eight minutes the teams had one field goal between them, a three-pointer by the Aztecs’ Jason Dillard. Esperanza had five points in the period, Mater Dei three, all on Lippold free throws.

The difference, however, was at the free-throw line. Mater Dei sank 15 of their 22 attempts. Esperanza was only 6 of 16 (37.5%), including a woeful 4 of 12 in the first half.

“If they make their free throws they beat us,” admitted Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight, whose team was again without guard Kevin Augustine, out with the flu. “We didn’t play that well, but Esperanza had something to do with it.”

Hill, whose team would get a rematch with Mater Dei only if the teams met in the state playoffs, knew how close Esperanza had come winning.

“If we could make free throws we’d be dangerous,” Hill said with a sad smile. “Normally we are 68% at the free-throw line. We had the tempo to our liking and we did a lot of good things. But to beat a team like that you have to be perfect.”

Or at least make your foul shots.

In the other semifinal:

Tustin 38, Orange 22--Robert Griffin scored 14 points for the Tillers (13-2), who advanced to the final. Tustin led, 25-19, after three quarters.

In consolation games:

Fountain Valley 60, Foothill 49--Nathan Strange scored 24 points for Fountain Valley.

Laguna Hills 62, Kennedy 47--Mike Scaglione scored 17 points for Laguna Hills.

Loara 55, Valencia 45--Obaid Popal had 16 points for Loara.