Ocean View Captures Tournament

Orange had waited 24 years since its last visit to the Orange Holiday Classic final. But the Panthers will have to wait a little longer to win it a second time.

Ocean View won the tournament, 47-45, Monday night. It was the Seahawks’ first Orange Classic championship.

Ocean View (9-4) edged Orange (12-2) by taking a page from the Panthers’ playbook--as in take your time and take it slow.

After overcoming a three-point halftime deficit with a 10-2 spurt near the end of the third quarter to go ahead, 38-32, the Seahawks took their time on each possession.

It worked. Ocean View never let the Panthers get back up even though Orange got five three-pointers and a game-high 21 points from guard Brian Krauss.

The Seahawks were outrebounded by Orange, 20-15, and did not shoot a free throw until there was only 4:12 left to play.

But the victory was not certain until Orange missed two shots in the final five seconds.

“I’m so happy for our kids,” Coach Jim Harris said. “It was a great win for us, not that Orange didn’t deserve it, either. But with such a young team [only one senior among the top eight players], if we can play with a team as well coached as they are, there’s no doubt in my mind we can battle in our league.”

Orange Coach Richard Bossenmeyer, hoping to win the school’s first tournament title since 1972, when Orange defeated Costa Mesa, did not spend much time lamenting the loss.

“Take your hat off to Ocean View,” Bossenmeyer said. “We wanted a couple of their kids [Matt Kiemle and Jason Martini] to prove they could make jump shots and they did.

“But we had our chances, too. And in the long run, I think this will make us a better team.”

Martini led Ocean View in scoring with 14, and no basket was more crucial than the layup he made with 1:15 to play, making the score 46-41.

Kiemle, named the tournament’s most valuable player, had 12.