BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Finneran, Eagles Stepped It Up

Santa Margarita forward Brian Finneran is through with the pain and suffering. It’s all sweetness now.

A little more than two weeks ago, Finneran’s right foot was in a cast, and the Eagles were faced with entering the Southern Section III-AA playoffs without him. It was not a pleasant prospect.

But the 6-foot-5 senior was cleared to play before the playoffs began, and he will be on the court this morning at Anaheim Arena when the Eagles face Servite for the III-AA championship.

“He means so much to us,” Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk said. “Brian is not a high scorer. But he’ll get 10-12 points, 10-11 rebounds, three or four assists, two or three steals. It all adds up. He dabbles in each category.”

And he was sorely missed.

Finneran broke a bone in his foot a little more than a month ago. He missed the final six games of the regular season and the Eagles struggled.

When he left the lineup, they were ranked fifth in Orange County and had control of the Sea View League. They wobbled to the finish, going 4-2, including 53-36 loss to Tustin, which cost the Eagles (23-6) an outright league title.

Santa Margarita and Tustin finished tied for first place. Brian Finneran had 17 points and nine rebounds in the Eagles’ 55-33 victory over the Tillers in the first meeting.

“Obviously, having Finneran out made a big difference,” DeBusk said loss to Tustin.

Finneran was out, but he wasn’t idle. He attended every practice and tried to stay in shape. DeBusk had a stationary bicycle moved into the gymnasium.

Finneran even started shooting around.

“He would hobble around the court with a basketball, working on his shot, and then he rode the bicycle some more,” DeBusk said. “But we had no idea if we were going to get him back.”

The good news came two days before the Eagles’ playoff opener against La Quinta. Finneran didn’t start but scored 10 points. Brad Finneran, his twin brother, had 19 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals in the 73-58 victory, and the Eagles were rolling again.

Brian Finneran scored 20 points in the second-round victory over Pomona and 15 in the semifinal victory over Savanna.

“They are a different team when he’s playing,” Servite acting coach Kevin Reynolds said. “I’ve seen two tapes of them, one where he played and one where he didn’t. They seem to have gone to a higher level with him back.”

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Servite also has had to overcome a loss in getting to the playoffs. But the Friars have had to do without a coach, not a player.

Scott Hamilton, Servite’s second-year coach, was suspended for the remainder of the season after an altercation with a game official after the Friars’ 62-61 loss to Marina on Jan. 19.

Reynolds was made acting coach and the Friars (20-8) have gone 9-2 since, losing by a point to Fountain Valley and in overtime to Edison.

“I wasn’t sure how the kids were going to respond to the coaching change,” Reynolds said. “Scott and I do things a little differently.

“I streamlined the playbook. Instead of doing a variety of things on offense, we do just a few things and try to do them well.”

That philosophy has worked. Servite beat Bolsa Grande, 54-40, in the first round, Magnolia, 52-45, in the quarterfinals and Sonora, 47-46, in the semifinals.

David Downs, Kristian Vallas and Mark Seaton have taken turns leading the team on offense. Guard Kieran Betts usually defends the opponent’s top offensive player.

“I’ve never seen a team that plays with so much intensity,” DeBusk said. “They find a weakness and exploit it. They play hard and are well coached.”

But whether the Friars will be coached by the same man next season is doubtful. Hamilton is likely to be reinstated, according to school officials. Not that Reynolds minds.

“I’m worried about Santa Margarita,” Reynolds said. “That’s plenty to worry about.”

Division III-AA

Site--Anaheim Arena

When--11:15 a.m. today

Servite (20-8)--Kieran Betts, G, 6-1 (7 points per game); David Downs, F, 6-5 (13 points); Mike Hoffman, G, 5-10 (5 points); Mark Seaton, C, 6-9 (12 points); Kristian Vallas, G, 6-3 (15 points).

Santa Margarita (23-6)--Brad Finneran, F, 6-5 (13.6 points); Brian Finneran, F, 6-5 (13.7 points); Jeff Hopkins, G, 5-10 (5.3 points); Brendan Mulligan, F, 6-2 (11.5 points); Brian Scoggin, G, 6-1 (10.1 points).