FREEWAY LEAGUE : St. Clair Saves His Best for Last to Lead Sonora

Sonora point guard Chris St. Clair scored 27 points Friday night, and none were more important than the four he scored in the final 23 seconds against Sunny Hills.

St. Clair hit two free throws, blocked a jumper by Sunny Hills’ Jacob Cuccia and drove the length of the floor for a layup with nine seconds left to seal the Raiders’ 71-64 victory over the Lancers in a Freeway League game at the Sonora gym.

“Chris took the game over,” Sonora Coach Mike Murphy said. “He showed why he’s the best point guard in Orange County.

“He can do it all. He got the ball to the right people when he had to. He doesn’t have to score for us all the time.”

But he did down the stretch, when the Raiders were playing without center Chris Campbell.

Campbell received two technical fouls and fouled out with 3 minutes 29 seconds left after he exchanged heated words with Sunny Hills’ Brian Willmer.

Willmer, a linebacker who is being recruited by several Division I schools for football, fouled Campbell hard as the Sonora player went up for a layup. Officials separated the players and gave the technical fouls to Campbell, who took a seat on the bench with Sonora leading, 61-54.

“When we lose Chris, it hurts,” Murphy said. “He’s an extremely emotional player. He’s not a bad kid, but every once in a while, he can’t control himself. Tonight was a great example.”

After Campbell lost control, Sunny Hills took control.

Kevin Garand hit a layup and a three-pointer to key a 10-6 run, and the Lancers trailed by only three with 46 seconds left.

Then the point guards settled it.

With 23 seconds left, Cuccia fouled St. Clair, who sank both free throws. Then Cuccia launched a jumper just inside the top of the key, only to have it swatted away by St. Clair, who recovered the ball and laid it in.

Sonora, ranked ninth in Orange County, improved to 15-3 and took control of the league race with a 3-0 record. The Raiders also ended a long losing streak to the Lancers.

“That (game) has been like a ghost for us,” Murphy said. “Some of the kids said we haven’t beaten Sunny Hills since 1983. It has been a good six or eight years, for sure.

“I knew once we got this one out of the way, we would have a shot (at the league title).”

Mario Bertuol scored 16 points for Sunny Hills (6-10, 1-2), and Cuccia scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half.

In other league games:

Buena Park 54, La Habra 49--Alex Tolentino had 22 points and Jayson Fields had 14 to lead Buena Park (9-8, 2-1) past visiting La Habra (8-8, 2-1). Eddy Glover of La Habra led all scorers with 27 points.

Fullerton 71, Troy 70 (2 OT)--Ryan Hartshorn, who had 15 points, scored the winning basket in the second overtime to lead Fullerton (1-2 in league) past visiting Troy (6-9, 0-3). Matt Cardillo and Mark Stenner each had 17 points for Troy.