SUNSET LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Marina Gets Victory Despite Poor Shooting

Defense was in the spotlight as Marina held off a late rally by Ocean View to defeat the cross-town rival Seahawks, 41-38, in a Sunset League girls’ game Thursday night at Marina.

The Vikings (14-3, 3-1 in league), ranked fourth in the county, nearly blew a 10-point lead with 2 minutes 57 seconds left to play, but escaped with the narrow victory.

“This was a big game,” Marina Coach Pete Bonny said. “You don’t think they are that big early in the season, but you don’t want to have two losses this early.”

In the well-balanced Sunset League, every defeat can be crucial. Now it’s Ocean View (11-5, 2-2), which entered the game ranked ninth, that must regroup to remain in the league race.

Neither team shot well from the field or the free-throw line. Marina made only 26.2% (16 of 61) of its field-goal attempts and 53.8% (seven of 13) of its free throws, and Ocean View converted only 16 of its 49 shots from the field (32.6%) and four of 11 free-throw opportunities (36.3%).

Marina held a 22-16 lead at halftime after limiting Ocean View to only six points in the second quarter--four of them on free throws--and increased the margin to 31-22 after three quarters before the Seahawks launched a comeback.

With Marina ahead, 38-28, in the final quarter, Ocean View got two three-pointers by guard Tricia Lindquist and baskets by forward Kristy Bell and center Nikki Vivion on inbound passes. The Vikings countered with only three points by forward Karla Orosco on a layup and a free throw to give Marina a 41-38 lead with 50 seconds remaining.

Ocean View then missed three inside shots with 12 seconds left but got the ball back after it was kicked out of bounds by a Marina player. When play resumed after an Ocean View timeout, Seahawk guard Kristin Brun attempted a three-point shot and missed, but tied up a Marina player. The possession arrow gave the ball to Ocean View with three seconds left. The Seahawks, however, couldn’t get a shot off.

Center Jessica Trippet led Marina with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and forward Barbara Kraus came off the bench to score six points and get eight rebounds.

In other Sunset League games:

Huntington Beach 41, Santa Ana 32--Clare Walker had six of her 16 points in the third quarter as the Oilers outscored the Saints, 14-4, overcoming a 22-16 halftime deficit.

Deana Itow added 11 and Tuesda Wistrick 10 for Huntington Beach (10-6, 4-0). Yolanda Gonzales led Santa Ana (7-4, 1-2) with 10.

Edison 62, Westminster 48--Melanie Iwamasa had 13 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for Edison (6-7, 1-2) at home. Joan Paje led the Chargers with 17 points and Katie Colclough added 14.