KATELLA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Millikan Edges Western to Win Title

ANAHEIM — For three quarters of the Katella High School basketball tournament championship game Friday night, Western held a slight edge over Long Beach Millikan, not just in points but in intensity and smarts.

But with the fourth quarter, Western’s fizz faded while Millikan, the tournament’s defending champion, took over for a 67-66 victory.

Not that it wasn’t hard-fought.

Millikan entered the fourth quarter trailing, 49-47, but after tying the game at 60 and then going on a 7-0 run with just over a minute remaining.

Western threatened again, though. Robbie Shelton scored on a baseline drive, Cory Manliguis scored off a steal by Thomas Barraza and Sam Sabbara sank both ends of a one-and-one to cut Western’s deficit to 67-66 with 21 seconds remaining.

Western had one last chance when Millikan’s Dario Del Cid missed a free throw with 10 seconds left. Shelton grabbed the rebound and drove the length of the court, but his layup was smothered by Millikan.

“We played just a little bit harder, I think,” Millikan Coach Bill Odell said. “We went to small (players) in the fourth quarter. . . .

“I think that the quickness is what made a difference. But the kids just kept coming at them.”

Although Western outscored Millikan, 15-11, in the first quarter, Millikan chipped at Western’s lead gradually, and trailed, 36-33, at the half.

Sabbara, who missed his first four shots in the game, scored 24 points--including four three-pointers--to lead Western (8-3).

Shelton scored 16 and Barraza had 15 for Western.

Millikan (12-3) was led by Ibn Suburi Maddred with 18 points. Pat Thacker added 14 and Dante Powell had 11 to help the Rams.

In the third-place game:

Bell 35, Servite 34--Servite trailed, 34-26, going into the fourth quarter, but fell just short of the victory.

Bell took a 15-8 lead after the first quarter, and Servite cut its deficit to 25-18 at halftime.

Steve Marusich, a 6-foot-7 senior, led Servite with 13 points.

Sal Serrano and Alex Del Hierro each scored 10 points for Bell.

In the consolation championship:

Rancho Alamitos 66, Katella 49--Paul Preuss scored a game-high 20 points to lead Rancho Alamitos and Richard Pearce added 12 for the Vaqueros.

Brian Franklin led Katella with 14 points, Paul Schroeder had 11 and Lee Baca had 10.