DIVISION III-A ROUNDUP : Corona del Mar Falls Short by Two Points

The question before Friday night’s Southern Section division III-A playoff game between Harvard-Westlake and Corona del Mar was who could dictate the pace?

Harvard-Westlake, averaging nearly 70 points per game, wanted to run. Corona del Mar, averaging nearly 50, wanted to set up.

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

Each team turned it over during the final 30 seconds, and the Wolverines missed two free throws. Then the Sea Kings’ 6-foot-4 forward, Doug Hesse, an unlikely candidate for such a shot, missed a three-point attempt with seven seconds left and host Harvard-Westlake won, 58-56.

“It was a funny game at the end,” Harvard-Westlake 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-Westlake (16-8). Guard Todd Merriman scored 15--13 in the first half--for Corona del Mar (10-16).

“We weren’t patient enough on offense,” Corona del Mar Coach Paul Orris said. “I thought if we’d been a little more patient offensively, if we got good shots, it might have been different.”

Hilliard was not happy with the pace either, but Peters said: “I’m sure we would have liked to run the ball more. I think we were happy with our game because they keep the score down in the 40s.”

Peters’ free throw made it 58-56 with 42 seconds left, but he missed the second half of a one-and-one. The Wolverines’ J.W. Hobson forced a turnover moments later, but after a timeout, Harvard-Westlake turned the ball over on the in-bounds pass, and the Sea Kings had one more chance with 19 seconds left.

Orris hoped to get the ball into the hands of Merriman outside or Hesse inside. Hesse got open--but behind the three-point line--and took the open shot.

But he missed.

“That could have been played better,” Orris said.