Boys’ basketball: Orange Lutheran wins 4AA title

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Trailing by three points heading into the fourth quarter, Orange Lutheran dug deep and showed its mental toughness down the stretch to hold off Windward 78-71 in the Southern Section Division 4AA championship game at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Senior guard James Douglas made four clutch free throws in the final minute to keep the top-seeded Lancers ahead after Windward had pulled to within four points. Douglas finished with 27 points, nine rebunds and six assists, junior guard Gabe York had 22 points and sophomore center Payton Banks added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists for Orange Lutheran (26-6).

Senior wingman Wesley Saunders had 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five blocks and Nick Stover added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the second-seeded Wildcats (23-8), who trailed by as many as 18 points in the first quarter.

Windward outscored the Lancers 22-9 in the third quarter to take a 54-51 lead into the final eight minutes. The Wildcats made 15 of 21 free throw attempts. Orange Lutheran made nine of 12.

Orange Lutheran lost to Los Angeles Price in the 73-70 in last year’s Division 4AA final.

-- Steve Galluzzo