Skip to content
  • El Dorado's Derick Anthony looks to make a pass under...

    El Dorado's Derick Anthony looks to make a pass under the tough Yorba Linda defense of Parker Way and Josh Miller on Tuesday.

  • El Dorado coach Ryan Mounce expresses his disagreement with a...

    El Dorado coach Ryan Mounce expresses his disagreement with a referee's call in the second half of Tuesday's game against Yorba Linda.

  • Yorba Linda's Isaac Douglass comes up with the ball during...

    Yorba Linda's Isaac Douglass comes up with the ball during a scramble with El Dorado's Nate Christopher on Tuesday.

  • Yorba Linda's Eric Hezmalhalch and El Dorado's Ryen Perry look...

    Yorba Linda's Eric Hezmalhalch and El Dorado's Ryen Perry look to grab a rebound during Tuesday's game.

  • Yorba Linda's Josh Miller is fouled by El Dorado's Ryen...

    Yorba Linda's Josh Miller is fouled by El Dorado's Ryen Perry as he dribbles up court Tuesday.

  • El Dorado's Nate Christopher tries to hold off Yorba Linda's...

    El Dorado's Nate Christopher tries to hold off Yorba Linda's Josh Miller while pursuing a rebound during Tuesday's game.

  • Yorba Linda coach Jason Pietsch gives instructions to his players...

    Yorba Linda coach Jason Pietsch gives instructions to his players during the final seconds of Tuesday's victory over El Dorado.

  • El Dorado's Ryen Perry grabs a rebound between Yorba Linda's...

    El Dorado's Ryen Perry grabs a rebound between Yorba Linda's Garrett Freund and El Dorado's Garret Boaz.

  • El Dorado's Garret Boaz plays tough defense on Yorba Linda's...

    El Dorado's Garret Boaz plays tough defense on Yorba Linda's Daniel Yano during Tuesday's game.

  • Yorba Linda's Daniel Yano grabs a rebound away from El...

    Yorba Linda's Daniel Yano grabs a rebound away from El Dorado's Ryen Perry during Tuesday's game.

of

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

YORBA LINDA — No longer is Yorba Linda the hunter.

With big-game wins this season over 2015 CIF-SS titlists Canyon and Foothill, Mustangs coach Jason Pietsch knows his program isn’t the underdog it was when the team’s current seniors were sophomores, hunting Empire League favorites Tustin, Western and Valencia.

In its first true North Hills League test, Yorba Linda, behind Isaac Douglass’ game-high 24 points, beat El Dorado, 63-53, Tuesday night at Yorba Linda High.

“I’ve told these kids that we can beat anybody, but also we can lose to anybody,” Pietsch said. “Since the school opened, we’ve been the hunters. Now, we’re the hunted. It’s a different point of view, a different mindset playing like that.

“We have to bring our ‘A’ game every night.”

Yorba Linda (18-6, 3-0) hit nine 3-pointers, but more than the result, Pietsch said he was pleased with how often the ball found different players on key possessions.

Douglass scored 20 points in the first half, and dunked in a game for the first time since the season opener. Eric Hezmalhalch scored 12 of his 17 points after intermission, and Zane Paddon had three huge baskets down the stretch.

El Dorado (12-12, 2-1) trailed, 32-25, at the half, and twice pulled within two points in the third quarter.

Golden Hawks center Elijah Mosham scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Garret Boaz and Ryen Perry scored 24 points between them.

“We’ve tried to instill in these kids, especially the past couple of weeks, that we need to be more unselfish,” Pietsch said. “Our mantra is: Get someone else a shot. We’ve done a better job of that the past three, four games.”

Yorba Linda and El Dorado appear headed towards another first- and second-place finish in the North Hills League. The teams meet again next week at El Dorado in the regular-season finale.

“Ever since we upset Canyon last year, we’ve had a bulls-eye on our back,” Douglass said. “But we’re experienced. We know we’re not hunters anymore.”

Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com