SEA VIEW LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Hot-Shooting Santa Margarita Beats University

With Santa Margarita’s leading scorer, Brian Finneran, sidelined because of a broken foot and the Eagles coming off an overtime loss to Woodbridge, the Eagles appeared ripe for an upset.

Santa Margarita, ranked fifth in the county, even played University’s up-tempo style game Friday night . . . and still won, posting an 84-72 Sea View League victory over the Trojans at Santa Margarita High.

Santa Margarita shot 57% (35 for 62) from the field, including six for 14 from three-point range, and Brian’s twin brother, Brad, had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead the Eagles (16-5, 8-1 in league).

But Brad was only one of many Eagles to step up their play.

Guard Jeff Hopkins had 16 points and three three-pointers and forward Brenden Mulligan finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

Sophomore Dennis Keane came off the bench to score 18 points, including 15 in the second quarter when he made seven consecutive shots.

“Give them credit, they shot really well tonight,” University Coach Mike Dinneen said. “We had our opportunities, but every time we’d make a run, they would make the plays.”

Demitrius Zeigler, who had 24 points and four three-pointers, made three free throws after he was fouled attempting a three-pointer to bring University to within 68-62 with 6 minutes remaining.

The Trojans (12-8, 5-4) pressed on the inbounds play and Ali Amiri stole the ball. But University turned the ball over without getting a shot, and the Eagles responded with Keane’s layup and free throw to push the lead to 71-62.

University’s offense sputtered in the final quarter.

Although point guard Amiri, who had 10 points and eight assists, made two three-pointers in the fourth quarter, Zeigler missed all five of his shots in the period. Dustin White, who had nine points in the first quarter, finished with 11 and made only one of five shots in the second half.

Santa Margarita led, 22-18, after one quarter, but expanded the lead by making 11 of 16 shots (69%) from the field in the second quarter.

Hopkins made back-to-back three-pointers to give the Eagles a 13-point lead with 2:45 left in the quarter. After University closed to within 39-31, Keane scored nine consecutive points in the final 1:30 of the quarter to help push the Eagles’ halftime lead to 48-33.

“Actually, we wanted to control the tempo in the first half,” Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk said. “But when the players got hot, we let the horses run and why pull the reins in?”

In other league games:

Saddleback 67, Newport Harbor 58--Chris Bradshaw scored 29 points, including five three-pointers, Mel Lete added 18 points and Brian Johnson had 14 for host Saddleback (8-12, 3-6). Ramy Shoukry scored 22 points for Newport Harbor (11-10, 4-5).

Tustin 47, Irvine 46--David Lalazarian scored 16 points and Doug Gottlieb added 13 for visiting Tustin (14-7, 7-2). Greg Foster had 16 points for Irvine (8-13, 3-6).

Woodbridge 72, Corona del Mar 46--Chris Talbott scored 18 points for visiting Woodbridge (9-11, 3-6). Jeff Matsen and Ramin Bastani each scored eight points for Corona del Mar (11-10, 3-6).