Woodbridge, Burgess Stop Santa Margarita

Woodbridge played with the intensity it had lacked a few weeks ago and knocked off visiting Santa Margarita, 75-67, in double overtime to put itself in the driver’s seat for a Sea View League title.

Woodbridge center Chris Burgess scored 34 points and had a season-high 20 rebounds in front of a standing-room only crowd of more than 1,200. A sizable crowd stood outside the gym and spectators peered through glass doors. Woodbridge officials were forced to stop admitting fans because of fire regulations in the 999-capacity facility. Spectators lined the floor inside the gym.

William Stovall contributed 17 points and four steals for the Warriors (18-5, 5-1), tied for third in county rankings. Forward Dennis Keane scored 30 points for eighth-ranked Santa Margarita, which beat Woodbridge, 62-56, earlier this season.

“The first time we played them we came in ranked ahead of them and we didn’t take them too seriously,” Burgess said of the teams’ first meeting in which Woodbridge fell behind by 12 points in the first quarter and couldn’t recover. “We went into that game kind of acting goofy in the locker room and it showed in the game.”

But the Warriors had to concentrate to pull this one out against the Eagles (14-6, 4-2).

Woodbridge jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the first quarter, only to trail at the half, 25-24. The Warriors built leads of as many as 10 points in the second half but the Eagles continued to battle back. Sean Redfern’s three-point jumper from the left baseline with 22 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime with the scored tied, 52-52.

Both teams had opportunities to win in the first overtime. Burgess made two free throws and two consecutive slam dunks for a 66-62 lead in the second overtime and Woodbridge was finally on a roll.

In other Sea View League games:

Newport Harbor 52, Irvine 44 (OT)--Freshman Matt Jameson had a steal and layup with 38 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. Wes Badorek then scored five of his 15 points in the extra period as the Sailors (6-15, 1-6), outscored visiting Irvine, 10-2.

Corona del Mar 67, El Toro 42--Brian Coleman scored 24 points and Adam Klinke added 19 for Corona del Mar (10-12, 3-4).