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YORBA LINDA — Villa Park’s Riley Schroeder got into early foul trouble and was forced to spend part of the first half on the bench in a nonleague game against Yorba Linda on Tuesday.
In the second half, he made up for his early absence.
Schroeder scored 23 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Spartans to a 70-60 victory over the Mustangs at Yorba Linda High School.
“I got two quick fouls and got subbed out really quick,” Schroeder said. “I came back in the second half thinking we’ve got to get our energy up so we can get the tempo, press them up and then get our baskets from fast breaks. That’s when we’re at our best.”
Also making significant contributions for the Spartans (22-3, 2-1) were Garrett Andre, who scored 15 points and had a key block late in the game, and Dominic Parker, who finished with 14 points.
“All three of those guys made a play when we needed to have a play made,” Villa Park coach Kevin Reynolds said. “And those are the three guys who have been leading us all year.”
The Spartans were coming off a 53-52 loss to Canyon in the Crestview League on Friday.
Omair Memon and Cory Knutsen scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the Mustangs (14-11, 3-0), who are in first place in the North Hills League.
Memon and Luke Ishikawa combined for 15 points in the third quarter and were the main reason the Mustangs were able to keep the contest close heading into the fourth.
But the Mustangs went close to four minutes without a point at the start of the fourth, allowing the Spartans to take a 60-48 lead.
The Mustangs got back to within six points with 2:36 remaining before the Spartans were able to pull away for good.
“I thought we kept our composure,” Reynolds said. “We’ve been in a lot of close games this year.”
The Spartans have also played all but one of their games on the road because Villa Park High School is having a new gym floor installed, the coach said.
“We’re the traveling road show,” Reynolds said.
Villa Park opened the contest with a 9-0 run, thanks to a pair of baskets from Schroeder and baskets from Andre and Dino Sdrales.
Knutson got seven of those points back by himself, hitting a two, a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws.
A basket and free throw by Parker gave the Spartans a 10-point lead in the second quarter.
Yorba Linda closed out the quarter with an 11-5 run to get to within four at the half.