SUNSET LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Marina’s Troubles Continue Despite 27 Points From Parks

For those wondering how Marina High School and its All-American center, Cherokee Parks, could be struggling with a 7-9 record, witness the Vikings’ Sunset League loss Friday night in Huntington Beach.

Marina blew a five-point lead in the final five minutes of play and then guards Tim Pham and Sean Haselrig each took ill-advised shots with the game on the line in the final minute in a 62-58 loss to host Ocean View.

Defending league champion Marina (7-9, 1-2) was the preseason favorite to repeat, but is 2 1/2 games behind Ocean View (10-6, 4-0) after two weeks of play.

Granted, Marina had lost three of its past four games without Parks, who was nursing a sore ankle. Parks returned to the lineup, but the 6-foot-11 center found little has changed in Marina’s offensive scheme.

Marina’s problems are easy to diagnose. If Parks doesn’t score, Marina doesn’t win. And Parks can’t score if his teammates don’t have the patience to work the ball into him in the low post.

Parks had 27 points and 11 rebounds against Ocean View, including two consecutive baskets that gave Marina a 54-49 lead with 5:18 remaining. But the he scored only one more basket down the stretch and stalked off the floor frustrated at the buzzer.

“We didn’t execute what we wanted to do in the end, which was to get the ball inside to Cherokee or set up a double screen for a three-point,” Marina Coach Steve Popovich said. “I don’t blame Cherokee for being upset.”

Parks’ last basket tied the score at 58, with 1:45 remaining but Ocean View answered with a follow shot by Randy Karliner 45 seconds later that pushed the Seahawks back in front, 60-58. At this point, Marina self-destructed.

Marina reserve Tim Pham took a three-point shot that wasn’t close and then teammate Dennis Winners’ follow shot was blocked, but the Vikings got the rebound. Popovich called a timeout with 16 seconds left, but the play he had instructed his team to execute never happened.

Instead, Haselrig took the inbound pass and cast off an awkward baseline shot that missed badly and the Vikings lost possession. Ocean View center Marcel TenBerge was fouled with seven seconds left, and made both free throws.

“That was a big win,” said Jim Harris, Ocean View coach. “That was the old Ocean View out there tonight. They came out tough in the second half, but good defense won the game.”

Ocean View guard Ryan Martin supplied the turning point in the game, stealing a pass at midcourt and scoring on a layup that cut Marina’s lead, 54-51. When teammate Jim Harris added a three-point shot on the Seahawks’ next possession, the game was tied, 54-54. The teams were tied twice more before Karliner scored on a follow shot.

Edison 63, Westminster 55--A fullcourt press in the third quarter helped Edison (13-4, 3-1) overcome a 23-21 halftime deficit against Westminster (4-11, 0-3).

Huntington Beach 96, Santa Ana 64--Mustapha Abdi scored 17 points and Jeff Vanderwal added 15 to lead Huntington Beach (11-4, 3-0). Chauncey Woolridge had 32 for Santa Ana (9-7, 1-2).