SUNSET LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Ocean View Stays in the Race by Edging Huntington Beach

The Sunset League standings, about as clear as mud, got a little more confusing Wednesday night with Ocean View’s 57-54 victory over Huntington Beach at Ocean View.

What was clear was that Ocean View needed to win in order to stay within striking distance.

“We called this Big Wednesday,” Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said.

The victory moved Ocean View into a tie with Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley at 4-3. All three trail second place Edison (4-2). League-leading Marina is 6-1.

In keeping with the league’s general theme of nothing coming easily, Ocean View (12-8 overall) blew a nine-point lead in the final five minutes before rallying to win.

Justin Carr scored on an inbounds play with 47 seconds left to put Ocean View back into the lead, 55-54, then added a 12-foot bank shot with 15 seconds left to provide the final margin.

Huntington Beach (11-9) had one last chance, but Bryan Chang’s three-point try didn’t beat the buzzer, and didn’t go in, either.

Carr and Bryan Knox led Ocean View with 19 points each. Chang had 20 points, including four three-point baskets, and Tony Gonzalez had 12 points and 14 rebounds for Huntington Beach.

Chang and Gonzalez helped turn what looked like an easy victory for Ocean View into a cliffhanger.

“We had two problems,” Harris said. “They were starting to get position in the post. And Chang hit a couple of threes (in the second half) right in our faces.”

But Ocean View didn’t buckle in the final minute, even after Huntington Beach took the lead on a 10-0 run capped by Gonzalez’s layup with 1:01 left.

“I liked that we never changed our game, even though we had that roller-coaster ride at the end,” Harris said.

Fountain Valley 65, Marina 62--Jason Formagus scored 18 points to lead Fountain Valley (9-10, 4-3) to the upset at home. Formagus made eight of 11 shots from the field. Darren Crooks’ 26 points led Marina (14-7, 6-1). Crooks scored all 11 of Marina’s points in the third quarter.

Westminster 61, Santa Ana 56 (OT)--Santa Ana’s Fred Mora made two free throws with 15 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime at 56-56. However, Westminster (6-14, 2-5) held Santa Ana (6-13, 0-7) scoreless in the extra period. Paul Frechette had 18 points to lead Westminster.