RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA >> The Santa Margarita boys basketball team needed some late heroics to beat St. John Bosco 48-46 in overtime in a Trinity League game Friday at Santa Margarita High.
The Eagles trailed 44-41 with under 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Jake Heberle drew a double-team and he passed to Rockwell Reynolds, who made a 3-pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, Santa Margarita (13-1, 2-1) trailed by one and had the ball. Reynolds had the ball in the paint and kicked it out to Ethan Rhee, who made another 3-pointer as time expired to win the game.
“I’ve said this last week too, that we have a great group of selfless guys,” Santa Margarita coach Justin Williams-Bell said. “We had to bounce back from a loss on Wednesday (to Mater Dei). Our guys got in the gym and got after it yesterday. All credit to the players, they did a good job.”
Santa Margarita’s Ethan Rhee, left, is swarmed after making the winning shot against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Ethan Rhee, center, is swarmed after making the winning shot against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita fans react during a game against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn yells at the referee while playing against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’’s Rockwell Reynolds, right, is swarmed after scoring against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022 and sending the game into overtime.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco’s Kade Bonam steals the ball from Santa Margarita’s Kyle Evans in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco’s Elzie Harrington scoers against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn talks to his players while playing against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita dancer perform in a Trinity League boys basketball game against St. John Bosco at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’’s Rockwell Reynolds shoots and scores against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022 and sending the game into overtime.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Cameron Mercadel shoots against St. John Bosco’s Brandon Blair in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita coach Justin Bell reacts while playing against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco’s Kade Bonam shoots against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn reacts while playing against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Cameron Mercadel shoots against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Jonathan Moxie drives against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Rockwell Reynolds scores against St. John Bosco in a Trinity League boys basketball game at Santa Margarita High School Friday, January 14, 2022.
Rancho Santa Margarita won 48-46 in overtime.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Both teams shot poorly in the first half. St. John Bosco (13-7, 1-2) made just 24 percent from the field and 22 percent from 3-point range. The Eagles 33 percent from the field in the half.
St. John Bosco picked up the pace and went on a run in the third quarter to take a three-point lead. The Braves forced nine turnovers in the second half and shot the ball better. Bosco made 13 of 23 shots in the second half and overtime.
The Eagles were able to withstand that run and entered the fourth quarter with a 33-30 lead.
“We stayed resilient and tried to focus on getting stops,” Williams-Bell said. “They definitely threw some body blows. Bosco is really good and we knew they were going to score. Credit to our guys for being able to withstand it.”
Reynolds had a team-high 12 points for Santa Margarita and Rhee had 11. Kyle Evans led the defensive effort with five blocks and nine rebounds. Heberle had 10 rebounds.
Freshman Elzie Harrington had 14 points for St. John Bosco. Jack Turner had 10 points and DJ Henry had a nice game with eight points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Ian Cook had a team-high 10 rebounds for the Braves and scored the team’s two points in overtime.
Related Articles
Foothill defense holds down Canyon in Crestview League basketball showdown
Cypress girls basketball sprints past Valencia to stay hot in Empire League
Rejuvenated Lani White leads Mater Dei girls basketball past Rosary
Five OC girls basketball players nominated for McDonald’s All-American Game
Mater Dei basketball takes control early, hands Santa Margarita its first loss
St. John Bosco has lost five of its last six games. It will host West Ranch of Valencia on Monday in a nonleague game. The Braves are ranked No. 14 in the CIF-SS Division 1 poll.
Santa Margarita, ranked No. 11 in the Division 1 poll, will travel to Servite for a Trinity League game on Monday.
