BOYS’ BASKETBALL / IRVINE WORLD NEWS TOURNAMENT : Santa Ana Valley Defends Its Title

The Irvine World News tournament had never had a repeat champion. Until now.

Santa Ana Valley pulled off the feat Saturday, beating back stubborn Estancia, 62-58, at Concordia for its second consecutive title. Last year, the Falcons defeated Trabuco Hills in the championship game. It was the first time in 13 years of the boys’ basketball tournament there was a repeat champion.

Falcon forward Ike Harmon led all scorers with 23 points and was named tournament MVP. Not that it was easy; Harmon, who is bothered by a sore lower back, took a bad spill in the third quarter. Although he finished the game, he will be examined before the Falcons travel to Raleigh, N.C., for a holiday tournament.

“It hurts,” Harmon said, “but there’s no way I’m going to miss that trip.”

Olujimi Mann added 16 points for the Falcons. Kevin Byrne had 19 for Estancia.

A 13-0 run by Santa Ana Valley (7-4) in the third quarter, prompted partly by a shift in strategy, reversed a 37-30 Eagles lead for good. It was up to the Falcons to withstand a couple of final rushes by Estancia (9-2) to claim victory.

“That run was the difference,” said Eagle Coach Tim Parsel, who had primed his team for a potential meeting with Santa Ana Valley in the summer. “They have some very talented players, especially Mann and Harmon, and when you get easy shots against them you have to hit them.”

Estancia did that and more in the first half. By alternating its man-to-man and zone matchup defenses, it forced Santa Ana Valley into a medium tempo, did not sustain a rash of turnovers (13 for the game) and often held the Falcons to one shot. The Eagles, in particular Byrne and Chris Candlish (who had 11 points before fouling out), threw in liberal doses of body checks and forearms as well.

“They played us very physical--which is the way I would play us,” Falcon Coach Rich Prospero said. “They also played smart. I have a lot of respect for them; they are good.”

To negate Estancia’s power, Prospero made two key adjustments. Instead of having Harmon float along the wings and baselines, he had the 6-foot-7 junior stay near the basket. That forced Byrne and Candlish to play more defense. And Prospero had his guards go one-on-one to break down the Eagles’ outer defense and drive toward the basket. Mann more than once exploited the Estancia defenders for easy layups.

“They’ve got good quickness and were able to penetrate in the second half,” Parsel said.

In the third-place game:

Long Beach Jordan 76, Trabuco Hills 60--Ortege Jenkins had 21 points and George North had 16 points for Long Beach Jordan (5-4) in the third-place game. Rob Warnick for Trabuco Hills (6-3) led all scorers with 27 points.

In the fifth-place game:

Woodbridge 61, Irvine 51--Eric Ripley had 22 points and sophomore Chris Burgess had 20 for Woodbridge (7-2). Darrell Parker had 16 points to lead Irvine (3-7).

In the consolation championship:

Capistrano Valley 63, Kennedy 47--Brad Thornton had 21 points and Todd Hector had 11 points to lead Capistrano Valley (7-4). Justin Zuschlag had 18 points, including four three-pointers, for Kennedy (4-5).

“They played us very physical--which is the way I would play us,” Falcon Coach Rich Prospero said. “They also played smart. I have a lot of respect for them; they are good.”

To negate Estancia’s power, Prospero made two key adjustments. Instead of having Harmon float along the wings and baselines, he had the 6-foot-7 junior stay near the basket. That forced Byrne and Candlish to play more defense. And Prospero had his guards go one-on-one to break down the Eagles’ outer defense and drive toward the basket. Mann more than once exploited the Estancia defenders for easy layups.

“They’ve got good quickness and were able to penetrate in the second half,” Parsel said.