Sunset League : Not Everything Went Wrong : Marina Overcomes Minor Misfortunes to Win, 42-38

In terms of illness, infirmity, ill-advised shots and old-fashioned gore, the opener of the Sunset League basketball season at Huntington Beach High School Friday outdid any season opener on General Hospital.

The Marina basketball team (1-0, 11-6) was cast as the victim in a host of minor misfortunes, but it managed to survive the night and limp home with a 42-38 victory.

Viking Coach Steve Popovich was somewhat concerned because his team lacked one of its catalysts, back-up point guard Brian Sterzer, who was sick. And the situation only got worse.

In the second quarter, guard Bill Craft twisted his knee. Then, forward Steve Guild, who averages 14 points a game, picked up four quick fouls. He rejoined the game in the fourth quarter to score his only basket and promptly fouled out.

Finally, the player who had taken over the responsibility for the Viking offense, guard Mike Meyers, caught an elbow in the eyelid while trapping Oiler guard Shane Pariseau. The injury was a nasty gusher, causing spectators to gasp and the Vikings’ 7-year-old scorekeeper, sister Jill Meyers, to bury her face in her hands.

Oiler Coach Roy Miller probably would have liked to have buried his face in his hands in the second half, but for different reasons. After holding a 19-13 lead in the second quarter, the Oilers unraveled.

Two long Meyers jumpers over the Oiler zone helped Marina to pull into a 21-21 halftime tie. Huntington Beach looked flatter than last summer’s beachball in the third quarter, failing to score for almost six minutes.

Meyers, nephew of former UCLA basketball stars David and Ann Meyers, revealed his lineage with two more long-range jumpers. A shot by teammate William Quinn gave the Vikings a 27-21 lead before the Oilers ever scored at all in the half.

More galling for Miller, whose team had outplayed Marina on defense and on the boards earlier, was the way his players struggled at the free-throw line in the second half. The Oilers could have won the game at the line. Instead, they made only 5 of 14 second-half free throws.

MARINA (42)--Georgeson 5, Guild 2, Meyers 16, Quinn 12, Hattabaugh 7.

HUNTINGTON BEACH (38)--Vitz 7, Pariseau 14, Kao 2, Pemper 1, Moberly 6, Snow 4, Brazzel 4.

Edison 78, Westminster 48--The Chargers (1-0, 11-4) opened the league season with a decisive victory on their home court. The Chargers, who shot 58.3% (28 of 48) from the field and made 22-of-28 free throws (78.6 %), were led by Chris Cole with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Also in double figures for Edison were Ken Ammann with 14 points, and Richard Smith with 11 points and 7 assists, and Doug Katona with 10 points. Leaders for the Lions (0-1, 3-11) were Tom Dever with 18 points and Chris Chaisson with 10.

WESTMINSTER (48)--Dever 18, Chaisson 10, Sabias 2, Smith 2, Svaboda 6, Austin 6, Racine 2, Bertini 2.

EDISON (78)--Marguiles 6, Ammann 14, Smith 11, Cole 17, Henderson 2, Hanan 6, Katona 10, Prince 8, Ayers 2, Holdaway 2.

Ocean View 50, Fountain Valley 37--The Seahawks raced out to a 21-14 halftime lead and never looked back in the league opener at Fountain Valley. Ricky Butler and Blaine DeBrouwer scored 17 points apiece for the Seahawks. Glenn Gordon led the Barons with 15 points. Ocean View raised its record to 1-0 and 11-4 while Fountain Valley’s fell to 0-1 and 9-7.

OCEAN VIEW (50)--Panzica 4, Hazely 2, Butler 17, Morris 6, DeBrouwer 17, Whiteman 2, Diaz 2.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY (37)--Wessler 2, Johnson 10, Waite 6, Hanson 2, Gordon 15, Rochlen 2.