Rancho Alamitos narrowly makes it eight in a row

Rancho Alamitos emerged through the first half of the Garden Grove League schedule without a loss.

It has not been easy. The Vaqueros got their second consecutive one-point victory in a league game Wednesday when they defeated Los Amigos, 58-57, at Los Amigos High.

Rancho Alamitos has beaten all five of its Garden Grove League rivals to go 5-0 in league. The Vaqueros are 15-3 overall and have won eight in a row, including the back-to-back one-point games; they beat Santiago, 56-55, Friday.

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Vaqueros coach Tod Frank is enjoying the season, in which Rancho has sole possession of first place with a one-game lead over Garden Grove (4-1 in league).

"These kids have the most heart, just a phenomenal group of kids," Frank said.

Los Amigos, which started only one senior Wednesday, dropped to third at 3-2, and three teams — Bolsa Grande, La Quinta and Santiago — are tied at 1-4.

Rancho Alamitos led from the early first quarter on. The Vaqueros took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter, and quickly pushed that to 12 points.

Los Amigos kept battling as junior guard Hector Hernandez made two free throws and scored on a drive in the final moments to trim the Lobos' deficit to four points. The Lobos' Raymond Rembert made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to produce the final one-point margin.

Henry Nguyen led Rancho Alamitos with 15 points. Hernandez and Jorge Bedolla scored 14 points apiece for Los Amigos.