LA HABRA – A boys’ basketball game was sandwiched between two celebrations in the La Habra High gymnasium Tuesday night.
And it was the host Highlanders doing all the celebrating.
A pre-game video presentation showcased Coach Aaron Riekenberg’s program’s run to the Highlanders’ first-ever CIF Southern Section title last spring, capped by the unveiling of the championship banner on the gymnasium wall.
Less than an hour later the Highlanders were up 20 points on the visiting Crean Lutheran Saints and were cruising to a Crestview League victory.
Or so it seemed . . .
Sparked by junior forward Jacob Majok’s 13 points in the third quarter, and sophomore guard Hunter Caplan’s nine in the fourth quarter, Coach Nate Klitzing’s Saints went from down, 37-17, with five minutes to go in the third quarter to in front, 53-48, after two Caplan free throws with 37.9 seconds remaining.
But the Saints’ stunning comeback was answered by the Highlanders’ mind-boggling recovery that propelled their 56-55 victory and the second, and frenetic, celebration.
After the two free throws by Caplan (who finished with 13 points, four assists and five rebounds), the Saints’ defense seemingly had junior guard Acen Jimenez contained on his dribble.
But Jimenez – who missed nine of his 13 shots from the field beforehand and committed four turnovers – created just enough space to get his jumper off from the left wing, just beyond the arc, and he knocked in the contested shot with 27 seconds to go.
After a Riekenberg timeout, the Saints’ inbound pass was jarred loose and the ball found its way into the hands of La Habra’s Jaedon Anderson in the deep left corner in front of his bench.
Swish!
But the La Habra lead lasted all of five seconds, with a quick inbound pass and even quicker outlet to a sprinting Matt Cifcikara for a Crean Lutheran layup with seven seconds remaining.
That could have proven to be the decisive bucket, and everyone could have left the gym thinking “hell of a game!” . . . even from La Habra’s perspective.
The Highlanders – especially Jimenez – hadn’t packed it in yet, though.
After another Riekenberg timeout, the Highlanders came back onto the floor and an official handed the ball to Jimenez, who was standing out of bounds, just a few away from where Cifcikara had just scored.
He tossed the ball into Christian Howlin, who immediately flipped it back to Jimenez, already at near-full speed.
By the time he pulled up on his dribble, there were two seconds on the clock, and he was about 17 feet away on the right side of the top of the key.
Swish.
And the on-court celebration began in earnest, Jimenez mobbed by teammates and classmates – pouring out of the stands – alike.
Although his facial expressions seem to spell relief after, Riekenberg knew the ball was in the right hands at the right time for his team down the stretch.
“He (Jimenez) is a great player,” he said. “And that’s what great players do.”
Jimenez (pictured in the post-game euphoria with his teammates, courtesy of Greg Stein Media) finished with six assists and seven rebounds to go with his 20 points while his teammates combined for 10 3s (three apiece for Anderson and Sebastian Esparza).
Reserves Baylor Wilks (in the first quarter) and Joaquin Arciaga (in the second quarter) got the only non-3 pointer and free throw, respectively, by a Highlander other than Jimenez.
With 6-foot-8 teammate Will Malual sidelined for all but the opening few minutes with a sore right shoulder, the 6-7 Majok responded with the kind of performance (22 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots) that illustrated why he’s one of the best junior forwards in Southern California.
With the programs that were included in it via Orange County re-leaguing that went into place this season, the Crestview League – IMO – ranks second only behind the trinity League in top-to-bottom strength.
The five-member league has two more key clashes Friday night (with Cypress having the bye), as the Highlanders (18-4 overall and 2-0 league; No. 21 in the BurlisonOnBasketball Top 30) visit Anaheim to take on Canyon (14-4 and 1-0; No. 15) while Crean Lutheran (6-9 and 0-1) is in Santa Ana to play Foothill (13-6 and 0-0).
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