LA HABRA – Sonora got control of the pace and the game in the second half to beat Buena Park, 77-64, in the Freeway League boys basketball opener for both teams Tuesday at Sonora High.
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Austin Carter, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, fought through lingering effects of the flu to lead Sonora with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guards Kevin Marlow and Sean Murphy scored 16 apiece for the Raiders.
Junior guard Elijah Jones Church scored a game-high 28 points for Buena Park.
Both teams are 17-2 overall. Sonora is ranked No. 7 in the Register’s Orange County top 10. Buena Park is No. 10.
Sonora at halftime had a 36-35 advantage. Ten seconds into the second half, Murphy made one of his four 3-pointers and the Raiders began to pull away. They had a 21-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
In the first quarter, Buena Park was doing everything it needed to do to beat Sonora. The Coyotes were getting offensive rebounds and turnovers – they forced Sonora into five turnovers in the first quarter. The pace was fast as Buena Park took a 15-6 lead.
“They rebound like champs,” Sonora coach Mike Murphy said of the Coyotes. “We couldn’t keep them off of the offensive glass. I told (the Raiders) at halftime they’ve got to stop turning the ball over and we’ve got to rebound if we’re going to have a chance.”
Marlowe said Sonora had to avoid getting caught up in the Coyotes’ hectic style.
“We know they like to get offensive rebounds and they like to get out and run,” Marlow said. “We want to make everyone play at our pace. As the game progressed, we got control of the game.”
Sonora senior guard Bryce Rutledge scored nine of his 11 points in the third quarter. Murphy scored seven in the fourth quarter in which he was 5 for 6 at the free-throw line.
Sonora and Buena Park play each other Jan. 27 at Buena Park. Marlow said the Raiders should be ready.
“Our big guy (Carter) was under the weather for this one,” Marlow said. “We’ll be more in control next time.”
Sonora won the league championship last season with an 8-2 league record. Buena Park tied Sunny Hills for second place, at 7-3 each.
Buena Park’s other loss this season was to Whittier Christian in the championship game of the Leon Davis Classic on Dec. 29 at Whittier Christian High.
Contact the writer: sfryer@scng.com
