Los Alamitos Uses Reserve to Win, 77-73

Reserve guard Rick Garibay scored 14 points in the second half and five more in overtime to give Los Alamitos a 77-73 victory over Marina in a Sunset League boys’ basketball game Friday night at Los Alamitos.

Garibay’s biggest basket came with less than a minute left in regulation when he hit a three-pointer to tie the score, 63-63.

Garibay sank another three-pointer with 59 seconds left in overtime to give the Griffins a 71-65 lead.

Garibay then clinched the victory with a layin for a 75-70 lead with 25 seconds left.

“He’s a real solid player,” Los Alamitos Coach Steve Brooks said. “Just because he doesn’t start doesn’t mean he’s not a valuable player. We feel he gives us a spark coming off the bench so we’ve used him as a sixth man.”

Garibay, who finished with 22 points, has been remarkable as a reserve this season, Brooks said. Garibay was named to the all-tournament team at the Tournament of Champions last month despite not being a starter. He has consistently scored in double figures all season.

“He rallies our team and gives them a big lift and I think he fills the sixth-man role very well,” Brooks said.

Marina (14-5, 2-1) trailed by three at the half, but rallied to tie the score, 47-47, on Donald Lank’s soft jumper with five seconds left in the third quarter.

Lank continued his hot shooting during the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his game-high 25 points. Marina took a 63-60 lead with 1:22 left in the game when Garibay missed a three-point shot and the rebound came out long to Scott Rivera, who scored an uncontested layup.

In other Sunset League games:

Edison 49, Fountain Valley 45--John Song scored 16 points and Daniel Nehrig had 14 for Edison (10-7, 2-1). Fountain Valley is 5-13, 0-3.

Esperanza 61, Huntington Beach 38--Drew Gaulden scored 10 of his 18 points in the second quarter for host Esperanza (9-10, 2-1), which held Huntington Beach (9-9, 0-3) to two field goals in the third quarter to extend its lead to 13 points.