Skip to content
  • Foothill fans get loud as their team squares off with...

    Foothill fans get loud as their team squares off with Godinez during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill players celebrate their come-from-behind, overtime win against Godinez in...

    Foothill players celebrate their come-from-behind, overtime win against Godinez in Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill fans celebrate a basket against Godinez during Friday night's...

    Foothill fans celebrate a basket against Godinez during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill players Lucas Araujo (32) and Reed Nakakihara (10) celebrate...

    Foothill players Lucas Araujo (32) and Reed Nakakihara (10) celebrate their overtime win against Godinez in Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Godinez fans try to put the hex on free throws...

    Godinez fans try to put the hex on free throws by Foothill during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Godinez players are stunned by their overtime loss to Foothill...

    Godinez players are stunned by their overtime loss to Foothill in Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Players on the Godinez bench link arms and try to...

    Players on the Godinez bench link arms and try to will free throws into the basket during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal against host Foothill.

  • Godinez point guard Abran Hernandez, center, is swarmed by Foothill's...

    Godinez point guard Abran Hernandez, center, is swarmed by Foothill's Eric Patton, left, and Lucas Araujo, right, as he tries to grab a rebound during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Godinez Brandon Smith, left, blocks a shot from Foothill's Greg...

    Godinez Brandon Smith, left, blocks a shot from Foothill's Greg Blanchard during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill guard Jacob Sanchez breaks away after stealing the ball...

    Foothill guard Jacob Sanchez breaks away after stealing the ball from Godinez during the fourth quarter of Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Godinez forward Brandon Smith battles for a loose ball with...

    Godinez forward Brandon Smith battles for a loose ball with Foothill's Matt Avila during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill guard Lucas Araujo passes the ball around Godinez point...

    Foothill guard Lucas Araujo passes the ball around Godinez point guard Abran Hernandez in the final moments of Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill point guard Jacob Sanchez, right, brings down a rebound...

    Foothill point guard Jacob Sanchez, right, brings down a rebound over Godinez forward Fernando Avalo during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill center Eric Patton, right, goes up for a basket...

    Foothill center Eric Patton, right, goes up for a basket over Godinez foreward Fernando Avalo during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal at Foothill.

  • Foothill guard Jacob Sanchez does his best Karate Kid impression...

    Foothill guard Jacob Sanchez does his best Karate Kid impression during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinal against Godinez at Foothill.

of

Expand
Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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