LA HABRA — Opportunities for redemption don’t always present themselves in life as quickly as they do in sports.

Sixteen days after suffering a tough road loss, the La Habra boys basketball team avenged that defeat by holding Troy to just five points in the fourth quarter for a 59-43 win Friday in the Freeway League at La Habra High.

The Highlanders (17-6, 4-2), ranked No. 24 in Orange County, turned up the defensive intensity in the final quarter while exploding for 24 points against the Warriors (17-7, 4-2).

La Habra coach Aaron Riekenberg credited senior point guard Brayden Orr for changing the energy of the game.

“We pride ourselves on our defense and that is what turned the game,” Riekenberg said. “It started with our senior, our captain, Brayden Orr. He decided to set the tone, full court, picking up their point guard, who’s a heck of a player, and really just possession after possession turned him up the court and I think the rest of his teammates saw the energy he was putting out there and all of a sudden it picked up.”

The Highlanders trailed for most of the game and entered the fourth quarter down by three points, but that changed when sophomore shooting guard Grayson Sinek made back-to-back baskets and then converted a free throw on a 1-and-1 to give La Habra a 42-40 lead.

Sinek struggled early in the game but his seven second-half points, including five in the fourth, was a huge momentum boost for the Highlanders.

“For him to just stay in it mentally, continue to try to find ways to impact the game until things opened up, also the way he ran the floor and moved without the ball, ended up paying off late,” Riekenberg said.

Troy’s Vander Poog, who had a team-high 19 points, tied the game 42-42, but La Habra regrouped after a timeout went on a 17-1 run to end the game.

La Habra freshman Acen Jimenez had a game-high 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

Jimenez suffered an injury in the second quarter of La Habra’s 61-50 loss to Troy on Jan. 4 and sat the rest of the game.

Riekenberg was glad to have Jimenez on the floor during the crucial run Friday night.

“I think he (Jimenez) came out here tonight to prove that we should’ve won that first one and to show the impact that he has on this team and on the game,” he said.

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The Warriors, ranked No. 22 in Orange County, got a solid performance from big man Rayaan Khan, who scored 10 points with eight of those coming in the opening quarter.

The Highlanders countered with their bigs, Joe Cruz and Ulavai Fetuli, who provided tough defense, rebounding and some timely buckets.

“They don’t fill up the stat sheet but what they do for us down low, they anchor what we can do defensively and they’re willing to do all the little things,” Riekenberg said.

La Habra continues Freeway League play Wednesday against Sunny Hills, while Troy will look to bounce back Tuesday versus Buena Park.