PLACENTIA – With a trip to the CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs on the line Friday night, El Dorado’s Ryen Perry had a look of determination in the waning minutes of the game.
Perry scored 23 points and did everything he could to make sure the Golden Hawks defeated Brea Olinda, 48-42, in a North Hills League tiebreaker game at El Dorado High.
The junior sank three layups and made five of six critical free throws in the final two minutes to help the Golden Hawks hang on for a victory that earned them an automatic spot in the playoffs.
“He wanted the ball at the end of this game and made the big plays that a big-time player makes,” El Dorado coach Ryan Mounce said of Perry.
The victory gave El Dorado a second-place finish in league, which guarantees it a spot in the playoffs that start next week.
Brea Olinda (13-15) gained its only lead, 36-34, with 3:40 left to play in the game after Nico Natividad sank his second 3-pointer of the night.
But soon after, El Dorado (12-16) took the lead back when Derick Anthony drew a foul driving to the basket and sank two free throws.
Brea Olinda’s chances of victory dwindled at the hands of Perry as his teammates kept feeding him the ball.
Natividad led Brea Olinda with eight points.
Nathan Estabrook scored 16 points for El Dorado, making 7 of 10 field goals.
