Photos: Godinez wraps up summer league play with 61-42 victory over Saddleback

Joe Lopez of Godinez looks to pass off as Saddleback’s Sergio Calderon defends Monday. (Photos courtesy Harrison Zhang, For OC Sports Zone)

Godinez High’s boys basketball team shook off a threat from a determined Saddleback team to capture a 61-42 victory over the Roadrunners in the final game of the summer tournament Monday at Century.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

“We were better and more inspired and got after it a little bit more,” said Godinez Coach Greg Coombs. “You play a lot of games in the summer. Last week, we had a week off so we haven’t practiced in a week.”

Saddleback held a 23-22 halftime lead before Godinez got untracked early in the second half.

“Earlier, we weren’t very sharp,” Coombs said. “Give them credit, they made a lot of 3-point shots and shot the ball very well. It was more of our speed and defense and length the way we played in the second half and hopefully it will carry over into the fall and into next year.”

Godinez was led by Joe Lopez, who had 22 points and Andrew Valdez, who had 14 points.

“Andrew usually scores a lot of points for us, Joe is one of our better shooters, we’ve been looking for him to have a breakout where he looks to score a little bit more which he did tonight, which was a good sign,” Coombs said.

Saddleback was led by Alex Mena who had 14 points and four 3-pointers. Sergio Calderon had 11 points and four 3-pointers and Robert Lopez seven points for the Roadrunners.

Saddleback moved out to a 29-22 lead early in the second half on two 3-pointers by Calderon. But Godinez started to put on the defensive pressure and hit more shots and raced to a 51-36 lead on a basket by Lopez with 4:35 left.

-By Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com