CC v. WC

SoCal High School & Prep Report

O.C.Olympic League: Calvary Chapel vs.
Whittier Christian--(January 18, 1998)

If you read the Southern Section coaches polls that we published last Friday, January 16, 1998, then you know that Calvary Chapel was not ranked at all in their Division (IV-AA), even though they've won three previous consecutive league titles. You also know from reading the poll that Whittier Christian wass ranked 10th in the Southern Section Division IV-A poll, was 11-7 overall going into this game, and 2-0 in league play.

Well after Friday's game, that will most certainly change as Calvary Chapel beat Whittier Christian by 28 points, 78-50, in an Olympic League boys' basketball game Friday at Calvary Chapel. Senior Joe Ortiz had 20 points and seven assists and junior Brett Young added 19 points for Calvary Chapel, which took an 18-4 lead in the first four minutes and never trailed again. So much for the "rankings".

Whittier Christian shot only 15 of 44, or only .340 from the field, and could never quite find a rythym in the game. Calvary Chapel was just much quicker, more aggressive and played far better defense and scored much better than WC, which committed 17 turnovers, seven in the first quarter alone.

Calvary Chapel, which is now 13-6, and 3-0 in league play, and which will undoubtedly replace WC in the Southern Section rankings when they are next issued. Calvary Chapel's senior guard Jake Fabozzi hit for 15 points in the first half, scoring three three-pointers in the first half on 3 for 5 from downtown in the first half. It was really Fabozzi's great shooting, together with the great play of Ortiz, which led the Calvary Chapel Eagles, who shot seven of 16 three-pointers in the first three quarters. Ortiz, a senior who has committed to Westmont, hit on 9 of 12 of his shots from the field, and had just a ton of assists (we don't have the exact number, but it was more than 7 according to our source at the game).

On the other hand, Whittier Christian's standout this season Jon Stoa (6'-4" Jr. F), was limited to 13 points, 12 off his average of 25 per game. Stoa shot only 3 for 14 from the field.

For Calvary Chapel, Joe Ortiz had 20, Young had 19, Baker 5, Sabozzi 15, Dinnie 4, Ampy 3, Elliot 2, Senik 5, Blackwell 2, and Booker 3. Whittier Christian was led by Stoa with 13, Zieman with 12, Oronoz 3, Curran 3, Layton 2, Martinez 3, Streeter 8, Smith 1, and Stofly 5.

CC outscored WC 26 to 11 in the first quarter, 14-11 in the second quarter, 22-21 in the third, and 16-8 in the fourth quarter, just dominating most of the game except the third/

In another Olympic League game:

Orange Lutheran defeated Cerritos Valley Christian 55-54.

Valley Christian had the ball with 12 seconds remaining, but Orange Lutheran's Jason Whieldon stole the ball at the buzzer to preserve the victory. Matt Erickson scored 25 of 33 points in the first half for Orange Lutheran (9-7, 3-0), which led, 42-25, at halftime. Jeff Kerns added 10 points for the Lancers.

OL won the first quarter 22-17, and then just hammered VC in the second 20-8. but Valley Christian came right back in the third, outscoring OL 14-6, and then almost tying the game up by outscoring OL 15-7 in the fourth, but falling short in the last 12 seconds with the turnover.

Valley Christian had 5 three pointers in the game, and OL had 3. Valley Christian now drops to 0-3 in league play, while Orange Lutheran is 9-7 overall and 3-0 in Olympic League action.