Inglewood Reserve Helps Topple Santa Margarita

It was the cruelest ending to a season that exceeded all expectations.

Santa Margarita, which advanced to a Southern Section Division II-AA boys’ basketball quarterfinal playoff game despite returning no starters, watched its season end Friday when reserve Inglewood guard Ed McKinney made a high-arching three-pointer from the wing with 10 seconds to play.

The basket gave the third-seeded Sentinels a 43-42 victory that left the Eagles stunned and saddened at Morningside High in Inglewood.

Even Inglewood Coach Patrick Roy was somewhat surprised that McKinney’s shot found nothing but the bottom of the net.

“It was definitely not the kind of shot we wanted,” Roy said, “but under the circumstances we’ll take it.”

Santa Margarita guard Chris Pearce brought the ball upcourt on the Eagles’ final possession but lost control in the key. Teammate Lenny Collins came up with the loose ball, but his desperation heave near the three-point line fell well short at the buzzer.

“We were trying to push the ball up and bring shooters to the wings, but we weren’t clean with our execution,” Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk said. “The ball was bobbled and battered and that was it.”

The Eagles (23-6) had the game in their clutches in the final minute but couldn’t hold on. Guard R.J. Socci, who finished with a game-high 24 points, scored and was fouled on a drive with 1:24 left. He made the free throw to put Santa Margarita ahead, 42-40.

After Inglewood guard Brian Taylor (team-high 13 points) missed two free throws, Pearce had a chance to extend the Eagles’ lead but missed the front end of a one-and-one with 39 seconds to play.

Taylor drove into the lane on the Sentinels’ next possession but had his shot blocked by Ryan Stacey. Before Santa Margarita guard Brandon Rohe could clear the ball after grabbing the rebound, he was fouled hard by Taylor.

Eagle fans, who comprised about half of the small crowd, cried out for an intentional foul but the officials did not concur.

“I thought it should have been [called intentional],” DeBusk said. “[Taylor] threw [Rohe] to the floor. I’ve seen intentional fouls called for less than that.”

Rohe, in obvious pain, stayed in the game to attempt his one-and-one opportunity with 21 seconds remaining but didn’t make the first shot, giving the ball back to the Sentinels and setting up their game-winning heroics.

Inglewood (25-4) will play Brea Olinda in a semifinal Tuesday.

In another Division II-AA game:

Brea Olinda 67, Temecula Chaparral 54--Landon Lewis had 19 points, Ryan Moore had 18 points and Ryan Wilber scored 15 points for visiting Brea Olinda (23-6), which led by only four after three quarters.