Flu Bug Can’t Stop Ocean View

Maybe next year Ocean View Coach Jim Harris will make flu shots mandatory. But for now, all Harris can do is watch his team fight through this year’s strain.

Thursday at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, the Seahawks fought hard enough to earn a 54-44 victory over Los Alamitos in the second round of the American Division of the Torrey Pines National Prep Classic. Forward Marques Crane and center Torin Beeler, two of the Seahawks who have been hit hardest by the virus, combined to score 40 of Ocean View’s points.

“Every game is a struggle,” said Harris, who has managed to avoid the flu bug. “We are a very sick team. We’re just trying to maintain something.”

Despite their health problems, the Seahawks maintained a slim lead most of night. They led at half, 29-24, and after three quarters, 39-35. But they couldn’t pull away until going on a 10-2 run to close the game.

Crane who was the first to catch the virus, was not at full strength. But he had more energy than most of his teammates, especially in the first half. Crane scored 17 of Ocean View’s 29 points in the first half and had nine in the fourth quarter.

“I think Marques sort of wore down in the second half, but he was out there fighting hard,” Harris said.

Beeler spent the first half in foul trouble and only scored four points. But he had 10 in the second half and dominated the glass with 13 rebounds. Forward Neal Smith had 12 points and eight rebounds.

“I thought we could score inside and get a lot of weak-side rebounds,” Harris said.

But Beeler wasn’t the only player who had his way in the paint. Center Brian Rakusin scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds to lead Los Alamitos (6-6), which had won five in a row.

Ocean View, which improved to 9-2, will play Long Beach Jordan or El Cajon Christian at 4 p.m. today in the semifinals.

“We’re 9-2 and we haven’t played real well yet,” Harris said. “That’s the good news. But so far, we’re not as people thought we’d be. Fortunately, there’s a long way to go.”