Buena Park edges Garden Grove in a battle for CIF post-season playoff berth

Leading Buena Park to victory were (from left) Daishawn Chambers, Ernesto Portas and Isaiah Butler. (PHOTOS: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).

Before Tuesday’s Golden West League boys basketball game, both Buena Park Coach Robert Summers and Garden Grove Coach Andrew Scimeca agreed that their teams were approaching each remaining regular season game as if it was a playoff game.

Tuesday’s contest had the intensity of a playoff game as the game wasn’t settled until the final shot and when the dust cleared visiting Buena Park came away with a 51-48 victory. The teams are now tied for third place in league with three regular league games remaining.

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Buena Park sophomore guard Daishawn Chambers led all scorers with 22 points to help the Coyotes (9-15, 2-3) keep their playoff hopes alive. Chambers nailed a critical 3-pointer down the stretch and converted two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to seal the win.

“It feels good to win a game like this on the road,” said Chambers, a Millikan transfer, who drilled four 3-pointers. “We remained calm and made clutch shots down the stretch. We have Lagina Hills next on the road before we get home to face Costa Mesa. We played great together tonight and didn’t lose our confidence.”   

The Coyotes held a 40-39 lead after three periods but fell behind, 44-40, after Argonauts forward Neiman Quach completed a 3-point play and added a layup to put Garden Grove ahead at the 6:45 mark of the final quarter.

However, Buena Park, sparked by Chambers and Isaiah Butler, followed with a 9-0 run. Chambers 3-pointer with 3:14 remaining in the game gave the Coyotes a 49-44 lead. Quach’s bucket trimmed Buena Park’s lead to 49-48 with 52 seconds left. Chambers then sank two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to up the Coyotes lead to 51-48.

The Argonauts came within a whisker of tying the game and sending it into overtime at the buzzer as Ethan Juarez’s half court 3-point attempt banked just off the front rim as Buena Park held on.

“We played as a team and didn’t give up,” said Butler, who scored 10 points, including six points in the final quarter.

Summers said his team is developing.

“A few weeks ago, we wouldn’t have won a game like this,” said Summers. “In the past few weeks, we have gown as a team. The first time we played these guys we missed 10 free throws and tonight we only missed three. Every game from here out is a playoff game for us. We don’t want to be sitting home in February.”

After both teams started off slow, Garden Grove (14-11, 2-3) held a 12-10 lead after the first quarter and a 22-21 advantage at the break.

The pace picked up in the third quarter as Buena Park scored on its five possessions and took a 32-27 lead following Elliot Masillamoney’s basket at the 5:02 mark.

Nathan Tobon gave the Coyotes their biggest lead of the game after drilling a 3-pointer with 3:13 left in the quarter. But Jonathan Arzate (eight points) two free throws and Quach’s basket in the final minute cut the Buena Park lead to 40-39 after three periods and setting the stage for an exciting finish.

“We didn’t move the ball around late in the game as we did earlier,” said Quach, who finished with 18 points and was able to drive the paint effectively. “We need to keep working on that part of our game and execute it offensively.”

Scimeca said his team had its chances.

“We missed too many layups and free throws, but give Buena Park credit, they were tough defensively,” said Scimeca. “They made big shots and free throws and we didn’t. We had our opportunities but that was the difference. I think we need others to step up and be willing to take a big shot down the stretch. I think sometimes they rely too heavily on Neiman (Quach).”

Notes:

—Scimeca is in his fourth year as head coach of the Argonauts while Summers is in his third year at the helm of the Coyotes.

—Buena Park avenged an earlier league loss to Garden Grove on Friday, Jan. 2.

—With 2:07 left in the game, Buena Park forward Ernesto Portas rolled his left ankle while battling for a loose ball under the basket. Play was stopped as Portas remained down on the floor. After a few minutes, he walked off with the assistance of a few teammates. He did not return.

“Somebody stepped on my foot and I rolled my ankle,” said Portas, who scored eight points in the game and did a good job on the boards. Following the game with his ankle packed with ice Portas said, “It hurts right now. I would say it’s a four or five on a scale of one to 10 of pain.”

—Butler left the game at the 7:18 mark of the opening quarter after sustaining a bloody nose battling for a loose ball. Butler returned before the end of the quarter and was a key factor in the game for Buena Park.