By Tim Peterson
(South El Monte) – South El Monte broke open a close game with a 23-6 run in the fourth quarter and went on to beat Orange 49-29 Friday night in the second round of the CIF Division 5A playoffs.
Both teams struggled offensively through the first three quarters. South El Monte managed only six points in the second quarter but still led 18-17 at halftime. Tony Aguilar had a big first quarter for the Eagles with nine points and had 11 at the break.
South and Orange both had trouble finding the bottom of the net in the third quarter. The Eagles made just three field goals in the third, one of them a three by Daniel Guzman, and they outscored Orange 8-6 in the third to lead by three at 26-23.
South El Monte finally busted loose in the fourth quarter. Eli Lopez knocked down three shots from beyond the arc and Trinidad Marquez also buried one from distance. By the time the dust had settled the Eagles went on a 19-3 blitz, which ended up 23-6 when the final buzzer sounded.
Lopez with nine points in the fourth quarter, finished with 11. Aguilar led the team with 13 and Nathan Oroz, who scored five points in the decisive fourth quarter, was also in double digits with 12. Marquez and Guzman rounded out the scoring with seven and six points respectively.
For Orange no player scored in double figures. Mark Hernandez led the team with eight, Alex Villa scored seven and Sebastian Nunez added six. The Panthers managed just six points in each of the third and fourth quarters.
Orange will now begin to make plans for next year while the Eagles advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the Division 5A playoffs.
O 07 10 06 06 29
S 12 06 08 23 49
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