ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : Sea View League : Road Warriors on the Go as Corona del Mar, Newport Win

Winning on the road usually is difficult, but trying telling that to the Sea View League coaches.

Visiting teams had won 13 of 18 games in the six-team league going into Wednesday night’s games, and the trend continued when Corona del Mar beat Estancia, 50-47, in front of 1,800 at Estancia.

The victory created a three-way tie for first with Corona del Mar, Tustin and Estancia sporting 6-1 records. University (4-3) was upset by previously winless Newport Harbor in its home gym, which means visiting teams have now won 15 of 21 league games.

Paul Orris, Corona del Mar coach, was unable to explain this phenomenon but Joe Reid, Estancia’s coach, has developed a theory after watching his team lose for the sixth time in nine home games.

“You want to play so well in front of your home crowd, but you usually get caught up in the emotion, rush the offense and wind up making some dumb mistakes,” he said. “We’re 8-4 on the road and our two biggest wins (Corona del Mar and University) have come on the road.

“I’ve found that when we go on the road, we’re away from the hoopla and do what we’ve practiced all week. We worked hard the last two days on being patient offensively, but one bad pass cost us the game.”

The Eagles had a chance to win with 11 seconds remaining, but John Drake’s pass was stolen by Corona del Mar’s Markus Muller-Stach, who was intentionally fouled with three seconds remaining. He made only one free throw but it was enough to clinch the victory.

“We had the ball and a chance to win the game,” Reid said. “You want to at least get a shot in that situation, but we didn’t.”

Estancia held a six-point lead going into the last quarter thanks to Brian Tift’s shooting. Tift made eight straight shots through three quarters, including four in a row in the third quarter when the Eagles outscored Corona del Mar, 16-8.

But Corona del Mar stopped Tift and Eagle guard Kyle Mooney in the last quarter. Tift had four points and Mooney didn’t attempt a shot with Sea King guard Darren Morris hounding him.

“Mooney beat us the first time with 29 points,” Orris said. “Tonight, he got 10 and we shut him out in the last quarter. Morris did an outstanding job. Tift got hot, but the key was shutting down Mooney.”

Corona del Mar made only two field goals in the final quarter, but the Sea Kings made 11 of 15 free throws. Muller-Stach led Corona del Mar with 18 points and Tift led all scorers with 21 points.

Newport Harbor 65, University 46--The Sailors built a 10-point halftime lead, then held off a fourth-quarter rally to earn their first league victory. Gerry Geerlings scored 17 to lead Newport Harbor (1-6) at University. The Trojans (4-3, 15-7) closed the lead to five points with three minutes left. Lasse Glassen had 17 for University.

Tustin 64, Saddleback 53--The Tillers outscored Saddleback, 20-10, in the fourth quarter after being tied at halftime, winning a game at home. Leo Parker led Tustin (5-2, 17-3) with 23 points. Gylan Dottin led Saddleback with 20. Saddleback is 1-6 in league.