Eagles’ upset bid falls short

Steve Virgen

Execution was the name of the game in the Golden West League boys

basketball matchup of Ocean View High and Estancia at Ocean View

Friday night. In the first half, Estancia executed Coach Chris

Sorce’s game plan of slowing the game’s tempo. However, Ocean View

found a strategy of its own: score.

The Seahawks (18-3, 6-0 in league), leading, 20-15, at halftime, turned it up a notch in the second half to earn a 60-49 win over the

Eagles (13-7, 3-3). Ocean View, the defending Golden West League

champion, finished the first round of league undefeated.

“We had a game plan and we did a good job of executing it,” Sorce

said. “The game just got away from us in the third quarter. Overall,

I was happy with what we did tonight, but you never like to lose.”

Sorce also said the Eagles gained confidence and found many

positives in losing by 11 points at Ocean View.

“We have a lot to look forward to when we play them again,” Sorce

said. “We have Westminster up next and that’s our focus, but in the

back of (the Eagles’) minds they’re watching Ocean View.”

Estancia held a fast Ocean View team to 10 points in each of the

first two periods. The Eagles also earned a lead, 11-10, seven

seconds into the second quarter. Sophomore forward Carlos Pinto found

junior Scott Sankey for an easy layup. But that would be Estancia’s

only lead.

Ocean View, which scored its points in bunches, scored six

straight points, then the teams traded baskets before halftime.

Pinto, who led the Eagles with 19 points and six steals, scored

Estancia’s final four points of the first half. But the Eagles still

trailed, 20-15.

Then, Ocean View opened the third quarter, scoring nine unanswered

points. Novak, who scored 11 points, ended the Eagles’ scoring

drought with a dribble-drive and layup that started a 7-0 run with

4:53 left in the period. Pinto capped the run with a three-pointer,

but the Seahawks outscored Estancia, 12-4, in the final 3:05 to gain

a 41-26 lead after three quarters.

“Zack and Erik (Andersen) did a nice job,” Sorce said. “Even

though (Matt) Sargent had 23 points, I thought Erik defended him

well. (Sargent) made some phenomenal shots. I wanted Erik to stick

tight on Sargent. I asked Erik what kind of gum did (Sargent) have,

and Erik said Wrigley’s spearmint. (Sargent) had to earn every single

one of his points.”

Andersen, who scored four points, grabbed a team-high eight

rebounds. Sargent shot 8 of 12 from the field, and was 6 for 6 from

the free-throw line before fouling out with 1:40 left. The Eagles

shot 13 of 18 from the foul line (72%).

Estancia ran a stall-type offense in the first half, but the

Eagles did not spread out Ocean View’s defense. Senior point guard

Matt Cachola, who drew several fouls, started the offense near half

court and the rest of his teammates bunched together at the

free-throw line. They would set picks for each other and Cachola

would distribute the ball to the open man. They repeated until the

shot-clock went down to 10 and then they looked for a shot.

In the second half, after Ocean View opened with nine straight

points, Estancia went to full-court press defense, but the Eagles

could not keep up with the Seahawks’ speed. Ocean View scored six of

those nine key points on back-to-back three-point plays, which

provided the Seahawks with plenty of momentum.

“They turned the screws up a bit,” Sorce said of the Seahawks.

“They’re different from other teams we press. They’re a bit quicker

than the other teams we have faced.”

Sorce also said the game’s pace was not suited to senior Joey

Lindquist’s role, so the 6-7 center did not play as much. In

addition, junior Jordan Stroman did not play because he is recovering

from illness, Sorce said.