Things Just Work Out for Oceanside : No Matter What the Situation, Breaks Go Pirates’ Way

Somehow, everything always seems to work out for the Oceanside High School boys’ basketball team.

Somehow, no matter what the circumstances, the Pirates make the big play or get the big break to win a close game.

Somehow, no matter how much talent is drained from the previous year’s squad, Coach Bill Christopher puts together a playoff-caliber team.

It has been that way for quite some time now.

Take the game the Pirates played two years ago in the Southern California Regional Division II semifinals against Los Angeles Lutheran. Oceanside led, 47-44, in the final moments when Christopher--usually a symbol of organization and preparation--made a horrible mistake.

Starting guard Charles Dimry fouled out with nine seconds remaining and Christopher replaced him with Gary Willis. But there was a problem. Before the game, Christopher had forgotten to list Willis in the official scorebook.

A technical foul was called on Oceanside and Lutheran--with two free throws already coming because of the original foul on Dimry--appeared in position to win the game on a gift.

But Lutheran made only two of the four free throws and then missed a shot at the buzzer. Oceanside won, 47-46.

“Don’t blame anybody else, just blame the dumb coach,” Christopher said after the game. “I knew all about Willis and I thought I had written him in the book. We were lucky it didn’t cost us.”

It seems like it never does. Over the last three season, either by luck or design, the Pirates always seem to make the big play when the game is on the line.

The Pirates did it again last Saturday night, scoring seven straight points in the final two minutes to beat Castle Park, 45-39, and advance to Saturday night’s San Diego Section 2-A final against crosstown rival El Camino.

If the Pirates win, they will become the first team in section history to win three straight section titles. Oceanside beat Mission Bay, 63-40, to win the 2-A championship a year ago and defeated Chula Vista, 57-55, to win the title in 1984.

“We’ve had so many games over the years that have come down to the final moments and we’re used to it,” Christopher said. “Sometimes, the other team isn’t used to it. If we’re playing well and it’s close in the final minute, I feel good about our chances.”

When this season started, Christopher didn’t feel too good about his chances. Sure, the Pirates had won two straight section titles and three championships in four years, but only one starter returned. Christopher’s string of seven straight playoff appearances appeared to be coming to an end.

Christopher sensed that it could be more difficult this season, but he never let his team know it. He found a couple of new players to take up the slack and he emphasized the team’s strengths rather than exposing its weaknesses. The result was a 19-4 season and second-place Avocado League finish behind El Camino.

“He never gave up on us,” said forward Junior Seau, the Pirates’ leading scorer and only returnee. “We lost a lot of people but he just found new people to plug in. He knows what he wants from each player on the court and he knows how to find the right people to play those parts.”

Christopher’s coaching ability certainly has never been questioned. He made that one mistake in the Regionals two years ago, but that was an exception. Last year, he was voted The Times’ Coach of the Year.

“The kids deserve most of the credit,” Christopher said. “We’ve been lucky to have kids who know their roles and we always seem to find a leader. One time in practice this year, Junior actually grabbed one of the new kids and pushed him into the correct position on defense. Then he went over and picked up his man. You need players like that to be successful.”

Oceanside will be the underdog when it takes the floor Saturday against El Camino. The Pirates have lost five straight to the Wildcats over two seasons including two defeats this year.

But, with the way things have been going during recent seasons, one gets the idea that things might just work out for Oceanside.

Somehow.