WESTMINSTER’S Brice Bradley (2) and Garden Grove’s Miguel Ortega (44) battle for position in the Golden West League contest Friday night in the Argonaut gym. Grove won 67-60 to improve its league record to 2-0 and 14-6 overall (Orange County Tribune photo).

By Christopher Abdelmalek

It was a tale of two halves for the Argonauts of Garden Grove High School (14-6, 2-0) Friday night, as they played host to the Lions of Westminster High School (4-13, 0-2) for the second league game for both teams. Jerry Martinez led the way for the Argos to the tune of 28 points as Garden Grove defeated Westminster 67-60 to remain unbeaten in Golden West League action.

Martinez was red-hot in this game. He paved the way for the Argonauts to put up 39 in the first half by dropping 12 points in the first and 11 in the second almost outscoring the Lions team by himself. “Some days he is hot, he is one of the better scorers in the county in my opinion,” said the Argonauts Head Coach Brian Girard. Efficient could be the other way of describing Martinez and the Argos in the first half as they only missed on a handful of their shots.

BRIAN GIRARD, Garden Grove’s coach, saw his Argonauts hold off a late charge by Westminster Friday night and win 67-60.

However, inefficient would be the way to describe the Lions first half. While they opened the game with a monster dunk by power forward Matthew Brookins, the Lions could only muster up 11 first quarter points. Missing open shots and easy layups put them in a hole early and quickly. “It’s been like that all week, we did not shoot the ball well from three or the free throw line tonight,” said Lions Head Coach C.J. Hollingsworth.

The Argos were up 39-26 at half time and felt like they were going to cruise into an easy victory. But Hollingsworth and the Lions would make some adjustments during the break and make the game much more interesting for the home team.

The visitors held the Argos to just 10 points in the third quarter forcing turnover after turnover while finally being active on the offensive end. The Lions put up 15 in the third thanks in large part to Brookins who dropped seven of his team-high 21 points in the quarter. They cut the lead to eight points going into the final frame. “[We] Finally decided to play defense,” said Hollingsworth. “That’s a good team, they run their stuff, and they are tough.”

But the Argos battled through the defensive pressure of the Lions, and came up with the clutch plays when they needed to. None were more clutch than Miguel Ortega’s buckets in the final two minutes of the game.

Ortega had 11 of his 17 points in the final quarter with six of them coming in the final minutes of the game. “He is great,” said Girard on Ortega’s performance in the game. “We can go inside to him as a sophomore, and he knows how to use his body against a bigger opponent.”

The Argonauts will face Ocean View High School (12-8 2-0) next Tuesday at home, while the Lions will play host to Segerstrom High School (5-13, 1-0) on the same night. Both games are scheduled for 7:15 tip offs.

Here are the scores from Friday (and Thursday) night local high school basketball games. Scores are posted as they become available.

FRIDAY SCORES (BOYS)

Empire League

Cypress 70, Pacifica 46.

Garden Grove League

Loara at Bolsa Grande

Los Amigos 56,  La Quinta 34

Golden West League

Garden Grove 67, Westminster 60.

Ocean View 85, Western 77.

Orange Coast League

Santa Ana 57, Orange 47.

Sunset Conference

Newport Harbor 68, Marina 58.

FRIDAY SCORES (GIRLS)

Empire League

Cypress 47, Pacifica 36.

Garden Grove League

La Quinta 47, Los Amigos 41.

Loara 46, Bolsa Grande 39.

Santiago 31, Rancho Alamitos 29.

Golden West League

Garden Grove 50, Westminster 46.

Ocean View 50, Western 38. 

THURSDAY SCORES (BOYS)

Orange League

Katella 40, Anaheim 22.

San Joaquin League

Capistrano Valley Christian 84, Orangewood Academy 74 (OT).

THURSDAY (GIRLS)

Orange League

Magnolia 39, Katella 26.

San Joaquin League

Orangewood Academy 74, Sage Hills 22.

Sunset Conference

Edison 51, Laguna Beach 20.