Santa Margarita helps its Trinity League title hopes

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The Santa Margarita High boys’ basketball team wrapped a terrific week Friday.

And, with the 65-60 Trinity League win at JSerra, the Eagles are in position to win no worse than a share of the league crown with two victories to close out the regular season next week.

Coach Justin Bell’s team trailed by 14 points (40-26) midway through the third quarter before junior Kaiden Bailey fueled a collective effort at both ends of the floor to come away with its second win against one of state’s top teams in this week.

The Eagles (20-5 overall and 7-2 in league) rallied from 12 points down late in the third quarter Monday night at St. John Bosco to bag another critical victory, 67-66, relative to their Trinity championship and CIF Southern Section Open Division aspirations.

Santa Margarita (which picked up its second league Trinity win of the week by knocking off visiting Orange Lutheran Wednesday night, 82-36).

The Eagles came into the week at No. 9 in the CIF SS computer ratings (with a numerical value of 2.676) while St. John Bosco was at No. 3 (2.866) and JSerra at No. 8 (2.676).

Monday night they are at home to Mater Dei (No. 13 in the most recent computer ratings) and close the regular season at Servite (No. 51) Tuesday night.

The Mater Dei Monarchs (the computer had them at No. 13 Monday, two days before they lost at home to JSerra, 62-52) takes on St. John Bosco Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock in the Trinity-Mission Showcase at the Intuit Arena Dome in Inglewood.

The other Trinity clash on the final week that will impact the Trinity pecking order and the shape of the CIF SS Open division pool-play look is Tuesday night’s St. John Bosco at JSerra clash.

Friday night at JSerra, the hosts scored the game’s first 10 points with Bell calling a timeout four and a half minute into action.

A buzzer-beating 3-pointer from junior forward Brayden Kyman got the Eagles to within three points.

But seven Lions scored in the second quarter and they were back up by nine (33-24) at intermission.

Bailey (who didn’t score until his breakaway dunk with 5:50 to go in the first half), gave his team its first lead – at 46-45 – via a nifty, spinning finish around sophomore Earl Bryson, while being fouled, and free throw with 6:03 to go in regulation.

The lead switched hands twice before the Lions took their final lead, at 54-52, with 2:42 remaining, after a steal and dunk by junior Brannon Martinsen (who scored 11 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter).

Bailey (who scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter) spun away from B.J. Davis-Ray on the left low-post for a layup to push his team back in front and, as the Lions were pushing the ball up the floor, JSerra guard Grayson Sinek was called for a technical foul in front of his bench.

Bailey (pictured) converted two free throws and, with the Eagles also gaining possession after the free throws, he found Drew Anderson in the left corner for a 3-pointer with 1:41 to go and five-point edge.

Center Jarne Eyena converted an “And 1!” to trim his team’s deficit to two points with 1:20 remaining but Bailey responded at the other end, passing to Westmoreland for a 3 from the right corner.

Twelve seconds later Westmoreland rebounded a Davis-Ray miss, was fouled, converted two free throws for a seven-point edge with 38 seconds to go.

Bailey and three others scored in double figures.

And the starter with the least points – Dallas Washington, with six – turned in the most consequential defensive effort of the night.

The 6-foot-9 Washington (bound for Long Beach State) held the 6-7 Davis-Ray to just three points, and one of 12 shooting from the field while never allowing the future SMU player a clean look at the rim.

Davis-Ray scored 23 points in his team’s win at Mater Dei Wednesday night.