Girls’ Basketball: Ocean View falls to Westminster
WESTMINSTER — Recent history says that games against Westminster High are a tough task for Ocean View’s girls’ basketball team.
The Seahawks had dropped their last four meeting against the league rival Lions entering Friday night’s affair.
Depending on who you ask, that statistic is significant, but it was not one that Ocean View Coach Kim Morris was going to give credence to.
Lineups change from year to year, and thus, a run of any length against a specific opponent may not be an indication of the performance of a certain cast of characters.
The more pressing matter for the Seahawks was not the Lions’ recent run of success, but the challenge of playing meaningful games without sophomore center Helen Reynolds.
Jackie Moss had 27 points, seven steals, and five rebounds, but the host Lions were able to fend off shorthanded Ocean View, 59-50, in a Golden West League game.
Reynolds had a walking boot on her left foot after she sprained her ankle in last Saturday’s game against Laguna Hills. She is expected to miss three more weeks.
The Lions (9-8, 1-1) celebrated on the court following the game, a surprising development for a team that went undefeated en route to a league championship a season ago.
It made more sense looking back on the week. Westminster fell to Segerstrom in its opener, and another loss to the Seahawks (14-4, 1-1) would likely send the Lions two games off the pace.
“We knew that when we started the year, we were going to face our two toughest teams the first two nights,” Lions Coach Dick Katz said. “In order to stay in the league championship race, we had to win this game. No matter what happened with Segerstrom, this was a big game for us.”
Morris had a different take on the proceedings.
“I’m pretty sure the way that they celebrated, they knew that they walked out of here with an escape,” she said.
Asked if she felt that the Lions were particularly inspired for the evening, Moss said, “I just know that they’re like any other team in league. They want a championship.”
Westminster had balanced scoring with five players in double-figures. Jacklynn Tran had a team-high 13 points, Clarisa Ortega added 12, and Amy Yang chipped in with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Angel Huynh and Breanna Green had 10 points and two 3-pointers apiece.
The Seahawks were hampered by foul trouble. Their starting backcourt of Moss and Erica Almiranez each had three fouls before halftime.
Moss’ third personal appeared to be a phantom foul with 4:07 left in the second quarter, as Mellissa Alani was in the area of the contact.
Despite the foul trouble, Ocean View persevered. Emi Yamasaki provided secondary scoring with two three-pointers to close out the period, and the teams were tied, 20-20, going into the break.
“If I’m going to lose this game, that’s the way I want to lose it,” Morris said of the defensive effort.
Two big three-pointers from Huynh helped Westminster take a 37-32 lead after the third quarter.
Almiranez joined Yamasaki in the support of Moss in the fourth. She made her first three shots of the period, scoring eight points to keep Ocean View in it.
A three-pointer by Yang pushed the Westminster advantage to double digits, 56-45, with 3:21 remaining.
Morris let it be known that she wouldn’t mind if the foul trouble went away the next time these teams meet.
“I hope that they don’t get into foul trouble next time,” she said. “Leave my best players on the floor, and let the chips fall where they may. That’s my goal.”
“That’s exactly what we were trying to do. We had energy, we were relentless.”
Golden West League
Westminster 59, Ocean View 50
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Ocean View – 10 - 10 - 12 - 18 – 50
Westminster – 6 - 14 - 17 - 22 – 59
OV – Moss 27, Almiranez 11, Yamasaki 8, Newman 2, Torres 2.
3-pt. goals – Moss 4, Almiranez 3, Yamasaki 2.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
West – Tran 13, Ortega 12, Yang 11, Huynh 10, Green 10, Bivens 2, Medina 1.
3-pt. goals – Huynh 2, Green 2, Yang 1, Tran 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
