El Modena Erases Big Deficit Before Losing

ORANGE — Century League co-champion El Modena fought back from a 21-point deficit to tie Hacienda Heights Wilson in the fourth quarter, but lost in the final three minutes, 71-65, in the first round of the Southern Section II-A playoffs.

Wilson had a 40-27 lead going into the second half and increased it to 55-34 midway through the third quarter. But Vanguard Aaron Aguilera sprang into action, scoring 15 of his 23 points and pulling down eight of his 15 rebounds in the second half.

By the third quarter, El Modena (17-8) had closed the lead to 11, and with 2 minutes 45 seconds left in the game, Aguilera’s layup tied the score.

But with 15 seconds left, ahead 67-65, Wilson guard Jason Rieckewald hit both ends of a one-and-one, and Bobby Williams did the same to end the game.