SANTA ANA – “Amazing, wasn’t it?”
“I have no words. Just awesome.”
“Amazing. I don’t have the words to say how I’m feeling right now.”
Those postgame quotes from Foothill boys basketball coach Rusty Van Cleave, Riley O’Hern and Lucas Araujo frame the chaos that followed the stunning overtime battle between Foothill and Godinez on Friday night.
The Knights held tight late in regulation, received some luck when all else failed, then executed the way they have all season, defeating visiting Godinez, 59-49, in overtime to advance to the Division 1A semifinals.
“We’ve overcome a lot this year,” Van Cleave said. “We were tested again. Godinez was more than enough to handle with how well they played. We ran some good stuff and Brandon Smith was just better. Godinez was ready to play.”
Foothill (26-3) will be on the road Tuesday night against Peninsula of Rolling Hills Estates.
Smith led all scorers with 22 points, but fouled out with less than two seconds remaining in regulation, after missing the front end of a one-and-one. Godinez led by three. The man Smith fouled, O’Hern, hit the first free throw of his double bonus, then banked in the second, which he later said he wanted to miss long.
Godinez’s ensuing inbounds pass was heaved, hitting the low rafters in Foothill’s gym. The Knights took possession underneath their basket. They called timeout.
“The play could’ve gone to anyone,” Araujo said. “I was lucky the ball ended up in my hands.”
Foothill’s inbound pass found Araujo, who’d settled under the basket. He was fouled going up, with 0.5 of a second remaining.
He missed the first.
“I was a little panicked,” he admitted. “But I looked at my teammates and my coaching staff, and they kept me calm, confident. I was OK.”
Araujo hit the second free throw, the Dungeon broke the decibel scale, then Araujo crushed overtime, scoring 11 of Foothill’s 14 points.
Godinez (25-5) led for much of the game, with Smith prowling the restricted area defensively. His shot blocking from the weak side was impressive.
“He’s a special player,” Van Cleave said. “He’s the most dynamic kid we’ve seen. His upside is huge, and as he continues developing as a player, he’s only going to get better.
“What a special talent. I look forward to watching him at UC Irvine.”
O’Hern led Foothill with 21 points.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com