BELLFLOWER — Starting slow has been an issue at times for the Orange Lutheran boys basketball team this season.

But a slow start against St. John Bosco, the defending CIF State Division I champions and one of the state’s top team this season, is next to impossible to overcome.

The Braves took a double-digit lead early against the Lancers in the Trinity League opener for both teams Thursday at St. John Bosco High School.

Orange Lutheran tried to make a game of it and cut the deficit to single digits, but the Braves were too hot from behind the 3-point arc and too tough defensively en route to a 72-48 victory over the Lancers.

St. John Bosco’s Leon Shingo, left, vies for the ball with Orange Lutheran forward Elijah Goodritch during the second half of a Trinity League prep boys basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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“It’s just one of those things that we’ve had in tournaments where we’ve kind of had these slow starts trying to get going,” Orange Lutheran coach Dan Dunbar said. “And when you play from behind, especially if it’s a good team like a Bosco team, it makes it real hard to play catch up.”

After trailing by 15 points heading into the second quarter, the Lancers (6-5), who are ranked No. 11 in Orange County, went on an 8-3 run to cut the deficit to 10 and wound up outscoring the Braves by one point in the quarter.

“Our mentality is right,” Dunbar said. “We outscored them in the second quarter, so there’s definitely stuff to take away, to build off of.”

In the third, Jorden Lee’s 3-pointer for Orange Lutheran made the score 33-26 and a pair of free throws by Benjamin Dzabatou got the Lances to within seven at 35-28

But for the remainder of the third period, the Lancers couldn’t match the Braves’ outside shooting.

St. John Bosco hit 11 3-pointers, including three in the third and three in the fourth to help put the game away.

“We compete every night,” Dunbar said. “I think we’re going to watch some tape, learn a few things, and then we’ve got two tournaments and then we’ll be ready for the rest of Trinity League.”

Jonathan Dzabatou led the Lancers with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Benjamin Dzabatou and Jordan Lee both finished with eight.

The Lancers need to improve on taking care of the ball and late game execution, Dunbar said.

“That will come with time and we’ll be ready for Trinity League for sure,” the coach said.

All five of the Lancers’ losses have been against quality teams and most were by slim margins.

The Lancers lost to No. 5 La Habra, 49-45, on Nov. 20 and lost 62-48 to San Clemente, the county’s No. 8 team, on Nov. 23.

On Dec. 12, the Lancers were defeated, 46-43, by Damien, a CIF SS Division 1 semifinalist last season.

And then the Lancers were defeated by Long Beach Poly, 42-40, on Dec. 13.

“All top teams for sure,” Dunbar said. “We’re just really learning and growing as a team, trying to get over that hump.”

Orange Lutheran boys basketball will try to learn from loss to St. John Bosco in league opener

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