PLACENTIA – In a league-finale that featured 14 second-half lead changes, it seemed only fitting that the game was decided on the final possession.
Yorba Linda protected a two-point lead in the final 4.9 seconds, and escaped with a 50-48 win despite El Dorado’s Ryan Perry getting a decent look at a potential tying layup.
With the victory, the Mustangs (21-6, 6-0) claimed sole possession of the North Hills League title.
Shaun Maeder led Yorba Linda with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and Isaac Douglass finished with 11 points.
Elijah Mosham led all scorers with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds as he put on a dominant performance in the paint for the Golden Hawks
El Dorado (14-13, 4-2) looked primed to grab a share of the league title, but the Mustangs displayed a lot of determination in the fourth quarter to get the victory.
Mosham got the Golden Hawks off to the fast start. He scored 11 points as they took a 15-10 lead in the first quarter.
Yorba Linda switched to a 2-3 zone defense that helped cut them cut their deficit while the Golden Hawks struggled to get the ball inside to Mosham.
El Dorado held a 24-21 lead at intermission.
Maeder opened the second half by knocking down back-to-back shots, giving the Mustangs the lead, 25-24, and forcing the Golden Hawks to call a timeout.
From that point, the game became a back-and-forth contest as the teams essentially matched each other shot for shot until the final moments.
Douglass began the final quarter by drilling a 3-pointer that tied the score at 33.
Garret Boaz added seven points in the fourth that helped give El Dorado a 42-39 lead.
Maeder’s final shot from beyond the arc gave Yorba Linda a 47-44 lead it didn’t relinquish.
