Oak Park Has Surprise for Santa Clara, 53-51

AGOURA — Randy Gastwirt? He’s a known commodity. Josh Rattray? He wasn’t before the season but he is now.

Gastwirt, a senior guard for Oak Park High’s basketball team, entered Friday night’s game against Santa Clara averaging more than 20 points. The Saints held him to 12 but gave up 24 to his backcourt mate Rattray and were upset, 53-51.

“We did a hell of a job stopping [Gastwirt],” Santa Clara Coach Lou Cvijanovich said. “But [Rattray] got his licks in. That’s someone we didn’t know about.”

Santa Clara (6-4) threw its usual intense defense at Oak Park (8-4) and threw off Gastwirt, who made only three of 16 shots.

“It was just an off night,” Gastwirt said. “I didn’t want to press. Josh was hot and we just fed him the ball.”

The 6-foot-1 Rattray sank three of five three-point shots in the second half and five of nine in the game. The senior’s biggest shot came with just under a minute to play when he made a three-pointer to put the Eagles up, 49-47.

Santa Clara then missed a short-range shot and had another rejected by Eagle center John Murphy, who finished with eight blocks.

From there, Gastwirt and Rattray each hit two free throws in the final 25 seconds. Santa Clara’s B.J. Ward and Anthony Camper responded with baskets but the Saints never regained the lead.

“We did what we had to do to win,” said Gastwirt, who missed his first five free throws before sinking his final four.

Oak Park Coach Rob Hall said he was not surprised by Rattray’s performance.

“He’s our two guard, we expect him to make those shots,” Hall said.