Sunset League : DeBrouwer’s Clutch Basket Leads Ocean View

Ocean View High School forward Ricky Butler was attracting most of the attention Wednesday night as the Seahawks prepared to take a shot that could virtually clinch his team’s first Sunset League championship. As the final seconds began ticking away in the Ocean View gym, Butler found himself in the close company of three Edison defenders.

Meanwhile, Seahawk guard Blaine DeBrouwer was enjoying comparative solitude. And DeBrouwer knew how to take advantage of a few moments alone.

With the Edison defense collapsing on Butler inside, DeBrouwer drove the side of the key and threw in a six-foot bank shot with one second remaining, then hit the ensuing free throw, to give Ocean View a 52-49 lead.

The Seahawks conceded a basket to Edison’s Ken Ammann at the buzzer and walked away with a 52-51 win that realistically--if not mathematically--gives them the league title. Ocean View (7-0) needs only one win in its last three games to claim the championship. The Seahawks close the regular season against Marina, Huntington Beach and Westminster, the teams in the bottom half of the league standings.

DeBrouwer, who wears the nickname “Clark Kent” on the back of his warmup jacket, was anything but mild-mannered in this game. He finished with a game-high 17 points, and was the one Ocean View coach Jim Harris depended on in nearly every critical situation.

“Blaine’s been playing really well,” Harris said. “He’s shown a lot of poise. Tonight, he was a great leader as well.

“He’s such a good athlete, and now he’s starting to use it. He was having fun out there.”

Edison tied the score at 49-49 with 52 seconds to play when reserve guard Chris Cole took the ball on a fast break and scored on a layup over Butler. Butler was called for blocking on the play, but Cole missed the ensuing free throw.

Ocean View called time out with 47 seconds left, and proceeded to run 40 seconds off the clock before calling another timeout to set up for the last shot. “We hoped they would do what they did--sag on Rick,” Harris said. “We just wanted to make sure we got one good shot.”

Said DeBrouwer: “I just tried to penetrate. Fortunately, they sagged on Butler and let me have the shot. I knew it was in as soon as I let it go.”

DeBrouwer’s shot nullified a furious Edison rally in the fourth quarter. The Chargers trailed, 38-32, entering the final period but came back to tie it on Cole’s drive. Baron Coenen led the Chargers with 13 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter.

EDISON (51)--Prince 2, Ammann 12, McConnell 8, Katona 10, Coenen 13, Cole 6.

OCEAN VIEW (52)--Panzica 12, Straight 4, Butler 10, Labat 5, DeBrouwer 17, Hazely 4.

In other Sunset League action:

Westminster 71, Huntington Beach 65 (OT)--The Lions outscored Huntington Beach, 12-6, in overtime to claim their first league win in three seasons. Eric Schurman hit two free throws with 11 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. Schurman had a game-high 31 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter, and 13 rebounds. The Lions trailed, 37-23, at halftime but went to an effective, full-court press to get back in the game.

Anthony Howard had led Huntington Beach with 27 points, including eight in the fourth quarter and six in overtime.

HUNTINGTON BEACH (65)--Howard 27, Schutz 2, Hanavan 4, Champion 9, Snow 14, Vitz 3, Harrigan 6.

WESTMINSTER (71)--Dever 16, Schurman 31, Davis 7, Love 10, J. Smith 5, R. Smith 2.

Fountain Valley 65, Marina 56--Senior forward Brent Martin led the Barons with 22 points.Guard Carlos Briceno added 17 points for Fountain Valley, which improved its league record to 4-3. Marina (2-5) was led by Mark Georgeson, who had 13 points. Marina freshman forward Steve Guild added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY (143)--Zeno 6, Martin 22, Briceno 17, Nagle 2, Horner 8, Emerson 6, Gordon 4.

MARINA (147)--Craft 4, Georgeson 13, Guild 10, Knuff 10, Pi 10, Medina 9, Quinn 2.