SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION III-A QUARTERFINALS : Estancia Makes Up for Past Losses, 68-62

Although it wasn’t at its best, second-seeded Estancia still managed to exorcise some ghosts with its 68-62 victory over Inglewood Morningside.

Forward Kevin Byrne scored 11 of his 19 points in the third quarter, keying a 15-0 run in a 3 1/2-minute span to help the Eagles take control after trailing by as many as nine in the first half of the Southern Section Division III-A boys’ basketball quarterfinal Friday at Corona del Mar.

Center Chris Candlish added 18 points to give the Eagles a potent one-two punch inside as the Eagles shot 75% (18 of 24) from the field in the second half.

Estancia (25-3) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals to play Goleta Dos Pueblos, an 85-63 winner over Lompoc at a site to be determined. Morningside ends 17-10.

“Although we were down, we knew we could come back,” said Byrne, who also had nine rebounds and four blocked shots. “This was some big revenge.”

Estancia avenged three losses suffered against Morningside in the 1992 and 1993 playoffs. Morningside won the Division III-AA section titles both seasons and beat the Eagles in the Southern California State Regional final in 1992 on the way to the Division III State title.

However, the Ocean League champions didn’t have a Stais Boseman or Dominic Ellison to punish Estancia. Boseman now plays at USC and Ellison plays for Washington State.

Still, behind Chris Croom (14 points), Brian Williams (11 points) and Frank Cressey (10 points), Morningside controlled the tempo in the first half and led, 20-11, early in the second quarter and 30-24 at halftime.

“I think we paid them a little too much respect in the first half,” Estancia Coach Tim Parsel said.

After watching his team shoot 40% from the field in the first half and commit 10 turnovers, Parsel inspired his team in the locker room at halftime.

“We were trying to avoid their defense,” Parsel said. “I told them that I didn’t care if Morningside got 10 blocked shots; just take it too them and play your game.”

A layup by Croom made it, 32-24, with 7 minutes 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but it was Morningside’s last field goal for more than six minutes.

Mark Pierson scored inside to start Estancia’s 15-0 run with 7:33 remaining in the quarter. Byrne had eight points--all inside 10 feet--and a layup by Dane Plock (11 points) and three-pointer by Tom Feeney (12 points) made it 39-32 with 3:58 remaining in the quarter to give Estancia control.

The Monarchs never drew closer than four points although Estancia made only six of 15 free throws in the second half. Morningside shot 33% (nine of 27) in the second half.

Estancia struggled with its perimeter shooting--making only four of 14 from three-point range--but its inside game made the difference. Richardson (seven assists), Plock (four assists) and Feeney (five assists) all did a good job of feeding Byrne, Candlish and Pierson inside.

Said Morningside Coach Carl Franklin: “Once they got the ball inside, their post game was too much for us.”