Segerstrom and Godinez captains meet with the officials before the game. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Segerstrom’s boys basketball team battled back from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat Godinez 52-48 Wednesday night in a non-league game at Segerstrom.
With the victory, Segerstrom (18-9) was able to avenge a 63-51 loss to Godinez on Jan. 13 at Godinez.
Both teams are headed to the CIF playoffs, but city pride was on the line in the match-up Wednesday in front of a solid turnout of fans from both schools.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
“It was exciting for the boys, both teams are going to CIF and we just want to go in healthy, my boys fought back and every single time they made a little run, we fought back. I can’t ask for more, we took a lot of charges, we were the first ones on the floor and we get those 50-50 balls it equals points,” said second-year coach Rex Gonzales who led the Jaguars to the Orange Coast League title.
“They got us at their house, but we got them at our house.”
Godinez, after trailing by one point after one quarter, took a 30-27 lead at halftime. The Grizzlies led 44-42 after three quarters before the Jaguars rallied.
Segerstrom was led by junior forward Angello Ramirez, who had a team-leading 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. He sank two free throws with six seconds left to give the Jaguars a four-point lead and Godinez was unable to counter in the final seconds.
“I usually start him, I didn’t start him today,” Gonzales said. “I started Nathen (Castillo), I know what Nathen brings, he’s going to bring toughness and make open shots and I guarantee you he’s going to take charges.
“Angello is an offensive player, if you play him in the first quarter or the third quarter, he’s going to score. I think he only played six minutes in the first half and he played the whole fourth quarter. He came in and produced, that was the game plan, and the ball went our way this time and we got the win.”
The 6-3 Ramirez was happy to contribute to the victory.
“The key was to listen to coach, slow the game down like he said and execute our game plan,” Ramirez said.
Chris Gutirrrez added 12 points and Elijah Harrison had 10 points for the Jaguars.
Godinez (20-8) has been plagued by illness which has spread among the players the last week, according to Coach Rob Morgan. Godinez finished second in the Golden West League behind league champion Laguna Hills.
The Grizzlies still put up a fight, led by Jaiden Torres who had 13 points. Dagyr Young added 11 points and Marcus Poserio nine points for the Grizzlies.
“Segerstrom played well enough to take the victory,” Morgan said. “Congratulations to them and coach and all of their players.”
Players and coaches from both teams will now wait for the CIF playoff pairings announcement on Saturday.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
The post Segerstrom rallies in fourth quarter to capture non-league victory over Godinez first appeared on .