RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — Orange Lutheran’s boys basketball team survived a wild fourth quarter to beat No. 1-ranked Santa Margarita 54-52 Friday in a Trinity League game at Santa Margarita High.

There were eight ties and lead changes in the fourth quarter.

It was the second league loss this week for Santa Margarita (20-5, 4-2), which lost to St. John Bosco on Wednesday night.

Orange Lutheran (15-7, 4-2), ranked No. 4 in the county, had a three-point lead with under two minutes remaining when Santa Margarita center Rockwell Reynolds made a shot in the key while being fouled. The Northern Arizona signee tied the game by making the free throw.

With 50 seconds remaining in the game, Daniel Manea made a cross-court pass to sophomore Zion Paleo, who made a deep 3-pointer to put the Lancers in front 51-48.

Paleo got a steal on the next Santa Margarita possession, was fouled and sank both free throws to put Orange Lutheran ahead by five. The sophomore had a game-high 21 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter.

“For a sophomore to step up the way he did tonight and control the game the way he did speaks wonders to the work he has put in,” Orange Lutheran coach Daniel Dunbar said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how he handled himself down the stretch.”

Santa Margarita guard Cameron McNamee was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made two of the free throws to cut the lead to three.

After Orange Lutheran was called for a five-second out of bounds violation, Santa Margarita was whistled for a traveling violation to give the Lancers the ball. Paleo made one of two free throws and Santa Margarita scored at the buzzer but fell short 54-52.

The Lancers lost to Santa Margarita earlier in the season 65-53 at home.

The win Friday puts Orange Lutheran in a tie with Santa Margarita for second place in the Trinity League standings behind St. John Bosco (6-0 in league).

Both teams have a win over fourth-place Mater Dei (3-3 league), but both teams have to play the Monarchs once more this season.

“Any win in the Trinity League is a big win, especially to go on the road against a good team who beat us last time,” Dunbar said. “The team came together and we got the clutch baskets we needed to pull it out in a great environment.”

Santa Margarita entered the week ranked No. 1 in Orange County and undefeated in Trinity League play.

The Eagles were held to a season-low 30 points and shut out in the first quarter in their loss to Bosco this week.

Dunbar and his staff took some notes from that game and the Lancers defense clamped down when it needed to.

“Our group is unique because we can play man, zone, some trap stuff and throw teams out of rhythm,” Dunbar said. “We took some of Bosco’s defensive principles and adapted our game plan and it worked to our advantage.”

Orange Lutheran shot 41 percent from 3-point range and forced 15 turnovers.

Cannon Potter had 14 points with five assists for the Lancers and John Gazzaniga had eight points with seven rebounds.

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Reynolds led Santa Margarita with 19 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Brayden Kyman had 19 points and made all four of the team’s 3-pointers. Kyman also had three steals.

Orange Lutheran is on a three-game winning streak and will play Servite and Mater Dei next week.

“I feel good about where we are but every team in the Trinity League is coming for you every night, so we can’t get complacent,” Dunbar said.

Santa Margarita will play road league games next week against JSerra and Servite.