PREP BASKETBALL : Southern Hospitality Not to Ocean View’s Liking

The promoters and 1,000 volunteer workers of the King Cotton basketball tournament take a lot of pride in their Southern hospitality.

The seven teams invited to the tournament receive free airline tickets and lodging, are showered with gifts and are guests of various eateries during their five-day stay.

But Ocean View High School found that hospitality goes only so far. The Seahawks were stunned in the opening round by host Pine Bluff, 61-57, Thursday in front of 1,000 fans in the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

Ocean View will play East Ascension of Gonzales, La. at 3 p.m. (PST) today in consolation play. East Ascension (12-3) was routed by the nation’s top-ranked team, Flint Hill Prep of Oakton, Va., 70-46, in the first round.

The Seahawks entered the tournament as the second seed, and with the reputation as one of the best teams in California. Pine Bluff came in reeling with a 3-4 record, and the feeling was the only reason the Zebras were invited to this national tournament was because they were hosting the party.

But Pine Bluff dispelled that notion early, racing to a 16-7 lead after one quarter as Ocean View had problems getting started. It was obvious from the outset that the Zebras were quicker and had three excellent shooters in the starting lineup.

Ocean View struggled through the first half, making only 6 of 26 shots, but trailed by only six points, 28-22, at halftime. The Seahawks rallied from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to take a 43-42 lead with 7:36 left after a bank shot by point guard Blaine DeBrouwer.

At that point, Ocean View appeared to be in control and was finally playing like a top team. The Seahawks extended their lead to 49-46 with 4:31 left following a short jump shot by Tony Panzica, but Pine Bluff refused to fold.

The Zebras caught Ocean View, 50-50, and then took advantage of two straight Seahawk turnovers to regain the lead. The key play of the game was a three-point play by Pine Bluff center Michael McCray with 2:29 remaining.

McCray rebounded a missed free throw, was knocked off balance and somehow tossed in a three-foot shot over his shoulder as he fell to the floor. Lucky? Maybe. But when McCray made the subsequent free throw, the Zebras had a three-point cushion, and an upset was in the making.

“I thought there was a point there where we had the game in hand,” said Jim Harris, Ocean View coach. “We had a three-point lead, their two best players were in foul trouble and you could see a worried look on their bench.

“On paper, we should have won. Now, there’s a real possibility of going 0-3 in this tournament. It’s a very frustrating time for this team.”

The Seahawks hoped to make a strong showing in the tournament, considering they have been ruled ineligible for the CIF Southern Section 5-A division playoffs. Instead, Ocean View appeared to be a step slow and uptight against the Zebras.

Forward Ricky Butler paced the Seahawks with 19 points and 16 rebounds. But he made only 6 of 17 shots and was only 2 of 10 from the field in the first half.

DeBrouwer returned after a two-game suspension but did not start after a poor practice session earlier in the day. He finished with 12 points.

Ocean View (9-2) enjoyed a 44-21 rebounding advantage, but made only 17 of 31 free-throw attempts.

“I could tell at the workout this morning that we were nervous and tight,” Harris said. “We have four varsity players who have been there before, but we don’t act like it. We’re playing real young.

“Pine Bluff played as if they had everything to gain and nothing to lose. They reminded me of Santa Monica with their quickness. I wasn’t surprised at their performance, although I didn’t expect them to shoot that well.”

The Zebras have had their share of upsets in this tournament. Two years ago, they advanced to the championship game before losing to Baltimore Dunbar. This time, they shot 61% from the field, and Ocean View became another upset victim.

In other King Cotton tournament action, Garfield of Seattle beat Fayetteville (Ark.), 54-33, and Riordan of San Francisco beat Kempsville of Virginia Beach, Va., 47-44.

OCEAN VIEW (57)--Butler 19, Hazely 12, Panzica 7, Treskes 4, DeBrouwer 12, Morris 2, Vogtmann 1.

PINE BLUFF (61)--Hunter 14, McCray 18, Pearson 8, Williams 16, Lee 1, Tate 4.