SUNSET LEAGUE ROUNDUP : It Isn’t Pretty, but Ocean View Stays a Step Ahead of Marina

Although the quality was questionable, the outcome was acceptable for Ocean View.

The Seahawks struggled and stumbled, staying barely one step ahead of Marina Friday at Ocean View. There were times when both sides played I-don’t-want-it-you-take-it, daring the other to take control.

But, in the end, the Seahawks held on for a 33-29 victory that knocked Marina out of first place in the Sunset League.

“You got to do what you got to do,” Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said. “Tonight, we won.”

No, Harris wasn’t into style, only results. That was enough.

The Seahawks shot 33% for the game. They turned the ball over 11 times in the second half. In fact, they had more turnovers (six) then shots attempted (five) in the fourth quarter.

But when guard Jim Harris sank two free throws with 18 seconds left in the game, Ocean View had a victory. That might have made Harris the hero, had he mot missed 12 of 15 shots during the game.

“We weren’t shooting very well when we were warming up, so when the tempo was slowed down, it was so much the better,” Coach Harris said.

Marina (15-9, 7-3 in league) made only 10 of 38 shots. The Vikings were a pitiful four of 20 on three-point field goals.

Part of that was due to Ocean View’s aggressive 2-3 zone, which harassed the Vikings’ perimeter shooters. But a good part of it was due to just plain ol’ poor shooting.

“It was like pulling teeth out there,” Coach Steve Popovich said.

That’s the way it has been the last two weeks for the Vikings. After winning their first six league games, they have lost three of four and are now a half-game behind Edison.

The Vikings trailed, 19-12, at halftime after scoring only two points in the second quarter. They got close in the third quarter and had two chances to take the lead in the third quarter, but couldn’t hit the shots.

The Seahawks (13-9, 5-4) managed to put together a 29-23 lead early in the fourth quarter on a three-point field goal by Harris.

But Marina made one last rally. When Scott Anderson sank a jump shot, the Vikings were within one, 30-29, with 1 minute 49 seconds left. After an Ocean View free throw, Marina had two chances to tie the score, but Anderson and Matt Keim missed jump shots.

In other league games:

Edison 83, Westminster 46--Brandon Jessie scored 43 points and Edison (14-7, 7-2) moved into first place with the victory. The Chargers led, 19-7, after the first quarter and, 40-23, at halftime.

Huntington Beach 71, Santa Ana 63--Tony Gonzalez scored nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as host Huntington Beach rallied (13-10, 6-4).