Segerstrom players, including No. 15 Elias Toledano, try to put pressure on Santa Ana’s Emmanuel Lemus (with the ball) during Thursday’s game. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Santa Ana High School’s boys basketball team broke open a close game with a big second quarter and went on to defeat city rival Segerstrom 63-52 in a consolation round game of the Estancia Coast Classic Thursday at Estancia.
The two Santa Ana schools are in different leagues.
Santa Ana led by one after one quarter, but took a 29-17 halftime lead and led 44-33 after three quarters.
The Saints were comfortably ahead in the final stanza.
“I thought we defended really well in the first half,” said Santa Ana Coach Zach Johnson. “In the second half, we slipped a little bit but we were able to get a win against another district opponent. It’s always nice to get a win against another Santa Ana school.”
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
The Saints (10-5) were led by center Emmanuel Lemus, who scored 29 points and guard Jack Rivera, who poured in 18 points.
“Emmanuel’s really been stepping up for us, he had a college (coach) in attendance to watch his game so he was on point today,” Johnson said.
The two were the only Saints in double figures, but it was enough to carry Santa Ana to the victory.
“We just have a rough beginning in the season,” Lemus said. “But we’re just trying to comeback. We’re trying to get back into the grind and get those wins.”
Segerstrom (4-10) was led by Chris Negrete, who had 15 points and Isiah Velasquez, who had 14 points.
Both teams wrap up the Estancia tournament on Friday.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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