FREEWAY LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Buena Park Works Hard in 44-41 Victory Over Troy

If you consider time spent sitting on the bench and his postgame fatigue, Buena Park boys’ basketball Coach Ed Matillo earns a nomination as Orange County’s hardest working coach.

If you consider a number of hard-fought victories and a first-place tie in the Freeway League, Buena Park earns a nomination as the county’s hardest working team.

The Coyotes didn’t make it look easy, but Wednesday’s 44-41 victory over visiting Troy proved that Buena Park finds ways to win.

Angel Barrios led Buena Park with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and made a free throw with two seconds left to clinch the victory at Buena Park.

After one round of league play, Buena Park (15-4, 4-1) is tied for first with Sonora. Troy (12-7, 3-2) drops into a second-place tie with Sunny Hills. Matillo, who paces the sideline nonstop, wasn’t surprised by another close game in a closely contested league race.

“This is what all our games are like,” Matillo said. “I look this tired after every game, because the way we play, we have to work for everything we get from start to finish. That includes the coach.”

Troy opened a 27-22 halftime lead after making three three-pointers in the final three minutes of the second quarter against Buena Park’s 2-3 zone. Randy Abbott made two in the final minute of the half for the Warriors.

In the second half, the Coyotes switched to a man defense. The move was successful, as Troy made only four of 16 shots from the field in the second half.

Buena Park took a 35-34 lead at the end of the third quarter, and then held off Troy down the stretch. With 23 seconds left, Alex Tolentino made both ends of a one-and-one to give Buena Park a 43-41 lead. Troy’s Santiago Allen then missed a three-pointer with seven seconds left, and Barrios made one free throw after being fouled on the rebound.

In other league games:

Sonora 66, La Habra 53--James Cannaday scored six consecutive points to break a 36-36 tie in the third quarter and Sonora (13-7, 4-1) took the lead for good. Chris St. Clair and Cannaday each scored 20 points. La Habra (3-15, 0-5) had 20 turnovers in the game.

Sunny Hills 54, Fullerton 45--Mario Bertuol had 14 points and Terry Mann 13 for visiting Sunny Hills (13-4, 3-2). Chad Murray had 11 points for Fullerton (6-14, 1-4), which also was assessed a technical foul early in the first quarter after Fullerton fans set off fireworks in the gymnasium.