JORDAN HARRIS (24) grabs a carom in Garden Grove’s 69-29 over Desert Christian Friday night. Strong rebounding over the taller Conquerors was a key to the win (Orange County Tribune photos).

By Jim Tortolano

In a word, the Conquerors didn’t.

The team from Desert Christian Academy from tiny Bermudez Dunes came into the Garden Grove High School gymnasium Friday night for a CIF-SS Division 5AAA second round playoff game with quite a mission: knock off the number one team in the division, and on their home court.

It was a bridge much too far. The Argonauts (27-1) jumped out to a 19-6 first quarter lead, their quickness and defense quickly overcoming the taller visitors (now 13-14) by the score of 69-29.

SEBASTIAN CASTRO scored 17 points in Garden Grove’s CIF-SS win Friday night.

Not that the Conquerors weren’t game. When Grove went cold in the second period, they rallied to close within eight at the 3:40 mark of the second quarter at 26-18. But that was as close as it got.

The Argonauts lit the fire again and rolled off 27 unanswered points across the second and third quarters and built such a lead that much of the fourth was played with a running clock.

“With our film study,” said Argonaut coach Ken Frank, “we felt that if we did what we did, which is rebound and run and get after it defensively, we’d be OK.”

The number 27 was also significant in that it tied the school record for wins by the boys’ team, a mark set in the 1968-69 season when the Argonauts were led by 6-foot 11-inch center Al Carlson. Those Argos fell short of a CIF title then. Can this team go all the way?

“Without a doubt,” said Frank. “We feel if we continue to defend and rebound, and if we’re patient on defense, we’ll be right there at the end.”

The Argonauts did pretty well shooting from the outside, as well, burying seven treys. They also had three dunks, which brought the big home-court crowd to its feet.

Sebastian Castro led the Argonauts with 17 points (including three three-pointers), followed by Brandon Coleman (12) and Andres Ortega (10). Zachary Devane led the visitors with 13 points.

Grove will go for a record-breaking 28th win on Tuesday when the red-and-white faces Santa Maria – location not yet determined – in a quarterfinal contest. The Saints (19-7 overall) advanced Friday with an 87-79 win over Providence High of Burbank.

Seahawks, Aztecs also post wins

The Argonauts weren’t the only local boys’ basketball team to win Friday night. In Division 3AA, Ocean View bested Beckman 72-57. Paul Head scored 26, and Mekhel Harvey scored 16, as well as grabbing nine rebounds as the Seahawks improved to 24-4.

La Quinta (22-7) defeated Ontario Christian 73-40 in Division 5AAA.

In Division 1 second round action, Edison lost in overtime to Oak Park 70-62, despite 25 points from Kaden Headington. In Division 3A, Marina lost 64-50 to Murrieta Mesa. In Division 4AA, Santiago lost 75-43 to Segerstrom.

In boys’ Division 4 soccer, Garden Grove defeated Pasadena 3-1.