Fraser Helps Ocean View Stay on Schedule

Because Jennifer Tuiolosega missed most of Ocean View’s first 10 games after off-season knee surgery, and because Ollie Martin had put together the toughest schedule in his 10 years as coach, there was good reason to believe this season might have been a washout.

“It could have gone one way or the other--the way it has gone, or it could have been a very mediocre season,” Martin said. “It was the hardest schedule I had ever put together because I counted on us all being healthy. When we didn’t have Jennifer, that made it very difficult.”’

But Becky Fraser made it a little easier.

When the Seahawks were playing some of their toughest competition without Tuiolosega (a Times All-County second-team selection last year), Fraser was carrying her teammates on her shoulder.

“If Becky didn’t play for us this season,” Martin said, “we’d be around a .500 club.”

But with Fraser banging inside and firing from the outside, Ocean View is 22-7 and playing for its first Southern Section title, a Division II-A championship game against Brea Olinda today in the Pyramid at Long Beach State. Fraser (15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds a game) is largely responsible.

“We were all scared,” Fraser said of the days without Tuiolosega. “As a captain, I felt I had to step up a little more than with her there. But everyone stepped up, it wasn’t just me that did anything.”

When Ocean View’s confidence could have been shattered, Fraser led the Seahawks to victories over Chino, Long Beach Millikan and defending Division I state champion Atherton Sacred Heart in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

“[Without Tuiolosega] made it very difficult,” Martin said. “The season was sitting right there and could have gone either way. With [Fraser’s] leadership, we started putting it all together.”

When Tuiolosega returned from off-season surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the Seahawks evolved into one of the county’s hottest teams.

They have won 13 of their last 14 games. Their last two losses were to Mater Dei and Westminster, and in the latter, Fraser didn’t play because of the stomach flu.

But in the rematch with Westminster, with a league title and a second- or third-seeded position on the line (Martin didn’t want to be fourth-seeded for fear of playing Brea in the semifinals), Fraser’s play typified her season. She scored 20 points, twice put Ocean View ahead on three-point baskets, then won the game with a free-throw with six seconds left.

And in last weekend’s semifinal, trailing by four points in the second overtime, she took control of a timeout to tell her teammates what they had to do. She then tied the score with a three-pointer with 24 seconds left. She had 18 as Ocean View beat Laguna Hills in triple overtime, 63-59.

“I was going to say the same thing during the timeout, but it’s more important if she says it--the girls believe in her,” Martin said. “Then she stepped out and hit the three-pointer and we’re not in trouble anymore.

“Some can lead by example, some lead by what they say, but she leads by both.”