Peters, Ray Set the Pace for Harvard

The question before Friday night’s Southern Section Division III-A basketball playoff game between Harvard-Westlake High and Corona del Mar centered on pace.

Harvard, averaging nearly 70 points a game, wanted to run; visiting Corona del Mar, averaging nearly 50, wanted to stroll.

And after a virtual stalemate for more than 31 minutes, another question arose: Who wanted the ball?

Each team committed a turnover during the final 30 seconds, and Harvard missed two free throws. Then the Sea Kings’ Doug Hesse, a 6-foot-4 forward and an unlikely candidate for such a shot, missed a three-point attempt with seven seconds left, allowing Harvard to escape with a 58-56 win.

“It was a funny game at the end,” Harvard Coach Greg Hilliard said. “A game that was played real well, and then both teams traded missed opportunities.”

Guards Tarlin Ray and Greg Peters each scored 17 points for Harvard (16-8). Guard Todd Merriman led Corona del Mar (10-16) with 15.

“I’m sure we would have liked to run the ball more,” Peters said. “I think we were happy with our game because they keep the score down in the 40s.”

Harvard fell behind by seven in the first half but evened the score at intermission. The lead then seesawed throughout the second half.

With 42 seconds left in the final period, Peters hit a free throw for a 58-56 lead, but he missed the second half of the one and one. The Wolverines’ J.W. Hobson forced a turnover moments later, but after a timeout Harvard turned the ball over on an errant pass, giving Corona del Mar one more chance with 19 seconds left.

The Sea Kings looked for Merriman outside or Hesse inside. Hesse got open--but behind the three-point line--and missed the open shot.

While Merriman owned the first half with 13 points, the second belonged to Ray. He covered Merriman after intermission and held him to two points--none in the fourth quarter. And Ray scored 11 points in the second half, six in the fourth quarter.

Jason Clark scored 11 of his 13 points for Corona del Mar after halftime. He made consecutive three-point shots as the third period opened, but the Sea Kings failed to keep the momentum.