GARDEN GROVE – Gabriel Ganac stepped to the free-throw line with Garden Grove nursing a two-point lead late in the fourth quarter. The senior calmly hit both shots as the Argonauts staved off a furious rally by Pacifica on Friday to seal the road victory, 69-63.
Ganac recorded a double-double by posting a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Justin Lovato added 17 points including four 3-pointers and Jordan Harris chipped in with 10 points for the Argonauts.
Garden Grove (13-4) looked in control for most of the game leading by as many as 13, but costly turnovers gave the Mariners new life in the fourth quarter as they cut that deficit to two points. After Andrew Brown nailed a corner 3 to make the score 65-63, Ganac was fouled and silenced the crowd with a pair of clutch free throws that gave the Argonauts a four-point cushion.
Brown led the Mariners with a game-high 20 points and Chandler Ohrberg and Troy Bethell both finished with 16 points.
Brown kept Pacifica (13-5) close early by hitting three shots from beyond the arc. But Garden Grove applied a backcourt press late in the first quarter and early in the second to create some distance in the scoreboard.
Ganac was a menace on the defensive side as he finished with six steals.
Lovato would end the third quarter by hitting a pair of 3s to give the Argonauts a 55-45 advantage entering the final quarter.
Harris converted a three-point play, giving Garden Grove a 58-45 lead.
The Argonauts were tested late by the Mariners, but after Ganac hit those late free throws, Garden Grove got a crucial stop on next possession.
