SUNSET LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Marina in First After 2 Victories Within 24 Hours

Marina High School completed its 24-hour march through the Sunset League with a 59-57 victory over host Edison Saturday night in Huntington Beach and moved into sole possession of first place.

Marina’s seventh straight victory follows Friday night’s 69-53 triumph over Ocean View. The Vikings seem to be a distant memory of the team that lost two of its first three games in league play.

“This was a big weekend,” Marina Coach Steve Popovich said. “We were on a rocky road for a while, but we’re getting better. The kids have really come together.”

Marina (14-9, 8-2) was struggling with a 7-9 record four weeks ago after losing to Ocean View. But Marina needs to beat either Huntington Beach or Fountain Valley next week to clinch its second consecutive league title.

Edison (18-6, 8-3) held a 49-48 lead with 4 minutes 46 seconds left after a three-point shot by junior forward Brandon Jessie. But Marina answered with eight consecutive points to take a 56-49 lead and held off Edison down the stretch.

Center Cherokee Parks scored 17 of his game-high 32 points in the second half and dominated play against a smaller Edison team. Parks had nine points in the third quarter when Marina scored 11 consecutive points to erase a 32-29 halftime deficit.

Edison led, 42-40, going into the fourth quarter but the Chargers wilted against a stronger opponent.

“I thought our legs went out on us in the fourth quarter,” Edison Coach Jon Borchert said. “Marina turned it up a notch defensively in the fourth quarter and Cherokee took over.”

Parks posted up low for two consecutive baskets that gave Marina a 52-49 lead with 3:43 left to play. Darren Crooks’ jump shot put Marina up 54-49 and then teammate Brent Shelor gave the Vikings a 56-49 lead by making two free throws.

But Edison’s Paul Baran made a three-point shot and two free throws to trim Marina’s lead to 56-54. Jessie had an opportunity to tie the score with 15 seconds remaining, but misfired. Crooks then made two free throws with four seconds left.

Parks made 13 of 22 attempts, including a three-point shot just before the halftime buzzer. He also had 10 rebounds. Jessie had 19 points and 11 rebounds but scored only five points in the second half.

In other league games:

Huntington Beach 70, Westminster 49--The score was tied at 37 after three quarters, then the Oilers switched to a pressing three-guard defense and outscored Westminster, 33-12, in the final quarter. Mustapha Abdi of Huntington Beach (15-7, 7-3) led all scorers with 26 points, 10 of them in the final quarter. Jesse Gomez led Westminster (5-17, 1-9) with 17 points.

Santa Ana 83, Fountain Valley 62--Chauncey Woolridge had 30 points and 11 rebounds for visiting Santa Ana (13-10, 5-6).