Ocean View Gets Past Fourth-Ranked Tustin

Ocean View did just what it had to do to beat fourth-ranked Tustin, 59-50, Wednesday night at home.

The fifth-ranked Seahawks (13-4, 3-0) got 15 points from forward Matt Kiemle, 12 points and nine rebounds from 6-9 center Kevin Hanson, and 12 points from reserve forward Jason Martini.

But they had to rely on five three-point baskets to take a 28-22 lead in the first half. Despite a big height advantage, the Seahawks never were capable of establishing a dominant inside game.

All of this made it difficult to tell who won. Ocean View Coach Jim Harris, who called his team’s effort inconsistent, was disappointed and worried about the rematch at Tustin Feb. 6.

“I seriously thought they played better than us,” Harris said. “They did more of what they wanted to do than we did.”

Tustin Coach Andy Ground said he had a good feeling about the rematch.

“I thought we were right in there,” he said. “I saw what I need to see. We threw a few different things at them. I feel good about getting them at our place.”

Ground drew a technical foul with 4:42 left in the game and Ocean View leading, 44-38. Ground reacted with profanity to a referee’s foul call. Ground also gestured at the referee and had to be restrained by an assistant coach.

The next time the Tillers touched the ball they trailed by 10 points. In the next two minutes, the Tillers made just one of five field-goal attempts.

Ocean View got two of guard Tony Dow’s three, three-point baskets early in the second quarter. After Kiemle hit a three-pointer, the Seahawks were leading, 28-16, with two minutes remaining.

Tustin (15-4, 2-1) clawed back to take a three-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

But Ocean View, used the technical foul as part of 13-point run to open the final quarter.