Foothill knocks off Esperanza, stays tied for first

James Marinacci scored 16 points and No. 9 Foothill rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Esperanza, 60-56, in a battle of first-place teams in the Century League on Saturday night at Foothill High.

Down by four entering the fourth, the Knights took advantage of Esperanza’s late-game fouling. Justin Davis made three key free throws down the stretch.

The Knights (19-4, 6-2) remain tied for first with Canyon (18-5, 6-2). Both teams are 6-2, but Foothill defeated the Comanches at home Wednesday, 82-71, to complete the season sweep.

Esperanza (13-9, 5-3) entered the game in a three-way tie for first.

Dillon Wasinack finished with 21 points on seven 3-pointers for the Aztecs (13-9, 5-3).

In other Century League games:

No. 8 Canyon 66, El Dorado 55: JoJo Ballestero scored 19 points and Anthony Bates added 16 with four 3-pointers to lead the Comanches (18-5, 6-2) over the host Golden Hawks (10-13, 2-6).

Villa Park 58, El Modena 46: Luke Selway scored 19 points as the Spartans (12-11, 3-5) defeated the visiting Vanguards (8-12, 2-6).

In nonleague boys basketball:

Loyola of L.A. 92, No. 5 Orange Lutheran 84: Gabe York scored 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made five 3-pointers, but the Lancers (14-6) couldn't overcome the Cubs' third-quarter surge in the Fairfax State Preview Classic in Los Angeles.

The Lancers led at halftime, 52-50, but got outscored 23-13 in the third quarter.

The Cubs were ranked No. 4 in CIF-SS Division 1-AA this week; the Lancers were No. 2 in Division 1-A.

Darien Williams added 22 points, Payton Banks contributed 18 and Drake Ulmer had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The Lions were led by guard Jacob Hazzard, who finished with 22 points and five 3-pointers.

In girls water polo:

No. 8 Edison 9, No. 7 San Clemente 8: Ashley Dorman scored with nine seconds left to lift the Chargers (11-8) past the Tritons (9-11) in a nonleague match at Ocean View.

Alys Williams paced Edison with four goals while Dorman added two. The Chargers avenged a 10-9 loss to San Clemente at the Santa Barbara tournament.

Candyce Schroeder and Kelsey Thornton each scored three goals for San Clemente.

At the Roy Brown Classic:

Pacifica 7, La Habra 6: Kassie Winn scored with 45 seconds left to help lift the Mariners (16-6) past the Highlanders (12-12) in the finals of the 16-team tournament at Katella.