Prep Basketball : Lira Leads Rally for Vaqueros

Rancho Alamitos High School, led by Gary Lira’s 26 points, overcame a big first-quarter deficit to beat Pacifica in overtime, 69-62, in a Garden Grove League boys’ basketball game Monday at Pacifica.

Pacifica (7-14, 4-7) led, 11-0, early in the first quarter, and had a 20-6 lead by the end of the quarter. But Lira, a junior guard, scored 19 points in the second half as the Vaqueros outscored Pacifca, 37-28.

Pacifica’s Bill Maurer scored the first two points of the overtime period. But Lira and Eric Webster combined for nine straight points in overtime to lead Rancho Alamitos to the victory.

Bolsa Grande 100, Santiago 56--Five of the six players scoring for Bolsa Grande (14-7, 7-4) scored in double figures. Joe Small led all scorers with 24, Harry Tarikian had 20, and Tommy Epperson and Mark Pincomb each scored 18. Santiago is 0-11 in league.

Kennedy 86, Garden Grove 45--Kennedy outscored Garden Grove, 32-11, in the third quarter to put the game away. Kennedy (13-7, 0-1), which had 10 players score, was led by Jim Barker’s 16 points. Kennedy outrebounded Garden Grove, 53-30.

La Quinta 73, Los Amigos 60--Forward Scott Campbell scored 32 points to lead La Quinta at Los Amigos. Campbell scored 21 of La Quinta’s 47 second-half points. Kenny Bennett added 17 points for La Quinta. J.J. Jenkins’ 16 points led Los Amigos.

In girls’ Garden Grove League games:

Kennedy 42, Garden Grove 39--Sophomore guard Michelle Harris (16 points) made a 30-foot bank shot as time ran out to give Kennedy (8-9, 7-4) the victory at Garden Grove. Harris scored after Garden Grove’s Marla Magsig (12 points) had made a three-point shot with eight seconds left to tie the score, 39-39.

La Quinta 82, Los Amigos 19--Amy Jalewalia and Donna Gondringer each had 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead La Quinta (18-3, 11-0) at Los Amigos.

Santiago 43, Bolsa Grande 32--Robin Caires scored 19 points to lead Santiago (12-6, 8-3) at Bolsa Grande. Liz Flores’ 16 points led Bolsa Grande.