SUNSET LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Ocean View Survives Westminster’s Rally

It has been a long week for Ocean View, and it’s just beginning.

On Saturday, the Seahawks face Huntington Beach, the second-ranked team in Orange County, in a Sunset League showdown. Getting there may be the trouble.

Ocean View already has had to endure the slings and shots of Westminster’s outrageous offense. The Seahawks managed to outlast the Lions, 56-48, Wednesday at Westminster, but it wasn’t a confidence-building victory.

Westminster, outmanned and undersized, threw in three-pointers as if they were layups in the fourth quarter, making five to nearly rally from a 15-point deficit.

The Lions got to within three, twice, then ran out of gas and time.

“That’s the hardest-playing team we’ve faced,” Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said. “They’re pesky.”

And they buzzed around the Seahawks most of the game.

Never mind that Ocean View enjoyed a size advantage that got more lopsided as the game progressed. The Lions (7-11, 1-7) have only one player taller than 6 feet 1, Jeff Madland (6-5), and he fouled out with 5 minutes 49 seconds left in the third quarter.

John Davis, Westminster’s second tallest played at 6-1, left two minutes later. That left the Lions with a lineup well-suited for any 6-foot-and-under league.

Those numbers had all the makings of receiving a severe beating. Instead, it was the Seahawks (11-6, 7-1) who got a bloody nose.

With little else to lose, the Lions went to an unconventional offense, which basically had them playing catch around the three-point line, waiting for opportunities.

Brady Okura made three in the quarter and five for the game, finishing with 18 points. Gia Tran came off the bench and dropped in three three-pointers. Robert Ishii hit only one, but it came with 2:41 left and pulled the Lions to within three, 46-43.

The Seahawks, outscored 15-5 in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, finally regained their senses. They made seven of eight free throws down the stretch, leaving them one game away from their appointment with Huntington Beach.

Ocean View plays Fountain Valley on Friday.

“I’ve already started looking toward the Huntington Beach game,” Harris said before the game. “I started Monday. The kids told me that’s all I talked about.”

Such farsighted behavior can be dangerous. But the Seahawks seemed to retain enough interest to keep ahead of the Lions much of the game.

Ocean View’s starters contributed little, but the bench picked up the slack. The reserves scored 22 of the 32 first-half points.

The Lions helped all they could with sloppy play. They turned the ball over 13 times and committed 16 fouls, trailing, 32-24, at halftime.

That deficit swelled to 42-27 midway through the third quarter. The Seahawks seemed to breath easier, but then had to hold their breath.

In other league games:

Santa Ana 58, Fountain Valley 56 (OT)--Freddie Mora scored three of visiting Santa Ana’s (7-11, 3-5) four points in overtime. Mora finished with a team-high 16 points. Ara Petrosian scored 17 points and Brandon Leimbach had 16 for Fountain Valley (11-7, 5-3).

Edison 51, Servite 35--Forward Micah Kroeger had 19 points and teammates Kyle Murphy and Ben Beard each added 10 for Edison (13-6, 5-3). Servite dropped to 5-13 and 1-7.

Huntington Beach 89, Marina 49--Forward Matt Ambrose had 17 points and 13 rebounds for host Huntington Beach (18-3, 8-0). Vlad Nieto led Marina with 14 points.