Sea View League : Saddleback Ties for Third Despite Loss : Four Teams Forced to Play Today to Decide the Final Playoff Spot

The Saddleback High School basketball team both won and lost Friday night.

The Roadrunners lost on the court at Corona del Mar in their Sea View League season-ending game, but thanks to Laguna Beach’s loss to University, Saddleback finished in a four-way tie for third place, forcing a playoff for the last CIF Southern Section playoff spot from the league.

Corona del Mar defeated Saddleback, 63-49, dropping the Roadrunners’ league record to 7-7. But at least they have some company there.

Laguna Beach, University, and Newport Harbor also finished at 7-7, so those four teams will meet today to determine the third-place entry from the league.

In today’s games at Woodbridge, Saddleback meets Laguna Beach and 10 a.m. followed by University and Newport Harbor at noon. The winners there will meet at Estancia at 7:30 p.m. to determine what team will advance to the playoffs.

As far as Saddleback is concerned, it will have to play better against Laguna Beach today than it did against Corona del Mar Friday if it hopes to squeeze into the playoffs.

Behind 27-23 at the half, Saddleback challenged to take the lead early in the third quarter following two straight baskets by Bryant Walton, which put the Roadrunners within two points at 33-31.

At this point, the Roadrunners had no answer to the Sea Kings’ Jeff Fryer, who scored two quick baskets to spark a 10-point Corona del Mar spurt that would put the Sea Kings comfortably in front for the rest of the game.

Although the Sea Kings had long since clinched the league title, Fryer nevertheless had an inspiration to play his usual spirited play: Loyola Marymount Coach Paul Westhead was in the audience scouting Fryer, who responded with 22 points and a good floor game for the Sea Kings.

Equally impressive was Walton, who led all scorers with 25 points, a performance that the Roadrunners wouldn’t mind seeing out of him in today’s matchup against Laguna Beach.

Corona del Mar finished its regular season at 12-2 and 21-4. Saddleback’s record is 7-7 and 11-11.

Woodbridge 58, Estancia 56--Mike Sullivan made both ends of a one-and-one with 17 seconds to play, and the Warriors survived two shot attempts by the Eagles in the last five seconds to win. Vince Bryan scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, and Adam Keefe added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Warriors. Woodbridge (10-4, 21-6) enters the playoffs as the second-place entry. Ron Brazell scored 14 point for Estancia, which 6-8 and 10-14.

Newport Harbor 85, Costa Mesa 51--Wes Torell scored 14 points and John Richards added 11 to lead the Sailors at Newport Harbor. Mitch Pelichowski led the Mustangs with 14 points. Newport Harbor raised its record to 7-7 and 13-11; Costa Mesa fell to 0-14 and 1-20.