Hanson Comes Up Big in Win

Kevin Hanson thought his shot didn’t have a chance. Servite Coach Scott Hamilton couldn’t believe his eyes when it went in and Ocean View Coach Jim Harris could only say it was “dumb luck.”

Hanson’s off-balance bank shot for three points with 14 seconds left enabled third-ranked Ocean View to top the visiting Friars, 48-44, and take sole possession of first place in the Golden West League.

Servite (15-5, 4-1) led, 28-22, after a basket by reserve Ken Ranzan with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter.

But Ocean View (15-4, 5-0) rallied and grabbed the lead for good, 31-30, with 49 seconds left in the quarter on a layup by Hanson after a pass from guard Tony Dow. Fourth-quarter steals and baskets by Jason Martini (11 points, six rebounds) and David Hatch (five points and eight rebounds) capped a 15-3 Seahawk run that put them up, 38-33.

Servite trimmed the deficit to 45-44 with 51 seconds left. Ocean View ran the game clock down to 30 seconds and the 35-second shot clock down to 14 before calling a time out.

Hanson, a 6-10 senior, got the ball at the top of the three-point arc with two Friars all over him and the shot clock about to expire. The ball was supposed to go to a teammate moving along the baseline, but Hanson couldn’t see him, so he head faked, pumped and somehow got off an awkward shot that hit high off the glass and fell through the net. It was his first three-pointer of the game.

“It didn’t look like a three-pointer,” Servite Coach Scott Hamilton said. “I thought we had defensed him pretty well. But I guess if their 6-10 guy has to beat you with a three-pointer, so be it.”

Hanson led the Seahawks with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Evan Friedl made six of seven field-goal attempts and finished with 13 points to lead the Friars. Rafael Zielonka scored 12 points and Steve Shea added eight rebounds for Servite.

In other Golden West League games:

No. 8 Tustin 79, Westminster 58--Tustin took 29-12 lead after the first quarter. The Tillers are 16-5, 3-2.

Saddleback 50, Santa Ana 26--Derrick Barnes scored 14 points and nine rebounds to lead Saddleback (7-12, 2-3). Rene Cabrera led Santa Ana (7-14, 1-4) with 13 points.