ORANGE LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Jackson Takes Matters Into Own Hands in Western’s Overtime Victory

After 32 minutes of playing Western’s panic-button, wide-open brand of basketball, Chris Jackson wasn’t about to let the Pioneers lose to Savanna in overtime.

Jackson scored six of his 32 points in overtime as Western held off Savanna, 75-71, in an Orange League game Friday at Western. He scored the Pioneers’ final eight points, including a jumper with 24 seconds left, to force the overtime.

With the scored tied, 71-71, Jackson nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1 minute 34 seconds left in overtime to give Western (11-4, 2-0 in league) the lead for good.

“Chris has the heart of a lion,” Western Coach Greg Hoffman said. “He looked over at me after that three-pointer like, ‘That’s for you, babe.’ ”

Savanna (10-6, 1-1) had the ball and a chance to tie, but Marlon Watson’s crosscourt pass bounced off the hands of Keith Midboe and out of bounds with 14 seconds left.

Savanna’s Tobie Priest, who finished with a game-high 40 points, dived and stole Western’s inbounds pass, but missed a shot from a sitting position. Jackson grabbed the rebound, was fouled by Priest, then hit one of two free throws to seal the victory.

Western held a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter, but struggled with Savanna’s pressure defense and committed 21 second-half turnovers.

“A lot of teams could have quit down 16,” said Greg Haskell, Savanna’s first-year coach. “We didn’t.”

Said Hoffman: “If we had taken care of the ball down the stretch, it would have been a bigger (margin of victory).”

Western held a decisive advantage at the free-throw line, making 26 of 34 attempts to only 10 of 12 for Savanna. Four Savanna players played most of the fourth quarter with four fouls, but only Priest and freshman Caanway Nguyen fouled out.

Jackson started the game as strongly as he finished. He scored 12 of Western’s first 19 points as the Pioneers built a 13-point lead midway through the first quarter.

Savanna came back, forcing four consecutive Western turnovers, and cut the deficit to 19-15 at the end of the quarter.

But the Pioneers’ free-throw shooting kept them in front. They hit 17 of 22 free-throw attempts in the first half, including 10 of 14 in the second quarter, while Savanna made only one of two for the half. Savanna trailed by as little as five (27-22) but was behind, 43-32, at halftime.

In other Orange League games:

Brea-Olinda 50, Anaheim 40--Host Anaheim got as close as four in the fourth quarter but Brea-Olinda (7-10, 2-0) was able to pull away again. Scott Hole scored 15 points for Brea-Olinda.

Valencia 68, Magnolia 52--Adolfo Gomez had 21 points for the host Tigers (8-6, 1-1). Aaron Williams had 21 in a losing effort for Magnolia (6-8, 0-2).