ORANGE LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Savanna Upsets Eighth-Ranked Western

The Savanna High School Rebels have lost six one-point games this season, including one to Western in the first round of Orange League play two weeks ago.

Friday night, the Rebels ended up on the right side of a one-point game by upsetting Western, 58-57, at Western High School.

“We never give up,” first-year Savanna Coach Kevin Kiernan said. “We have just a bunch of role players who work extremely hard for everything they get.”

Trailing, 51-40, early in the fourth quarter, the Rebels rallied by hitting nine of 11 from the free-throw line, including both ends of a one-and-one by senior center Andy Trumpour with 26 seconds remaining for the final margin. Western’s Thomas Barraza, whose free throw with no time left had beaten Savanna, missed a 12-foot shot with nine seconds left.

The loss left Western (18-3, 6-2), ranked No. 8 in Orange County, a game in front of Savanna (14-9, 5-3) and Brea-Olinda, which are tied for second place.

Barraza keyed a 21-10 Western margin in the third quarter with nine points. His pass to Steve Siefken for an easy basket with 7 minutes 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Pioneers a seemingly comfortable 51-40 lead. Trumpour hit a three-point basket and Trent Ramseyer made a three-point play to bring Savanna back, 53-46.

Trumpour led all scorers with 22 points. Siefken led Western with 16.