Beeler Feels Better, and So Do Seahawks in Easy Win

A case of mononucleosis sidelined forward Torin Beeler for the last three regular-season games, but it did not keep him out of the playoffs on Friday.

Beeler’s return to the starting lineup proved to be all the spark Ocean View needed as the Seahawks, seeded fourth, defeated La Verne Bonita, 63-45, in a Southern Section Division II-A second-round boys’ basketball game at Ocean View High.

“It makes us whole again,” Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said of Beeler’s return. “Otherwise we’re missing our leading rebounder, but it’s huge we’re total now.”

Beeler had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Marques Crane scored a game-high 25 points for fourth-seeded Ocean View (21-6), which will play Monrovia in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

“I was a little winded because I didn’t do anything for a couple weeks,” Beeler said. “But it’s always exciting to be in the playoffs and we came out so fired up.”

Bonita (21-7) buried itself in the first half, when it had twice as many turnovers (12) as baskets (six), caused primarily by Ocean View’s hustle. The Seahawks jumped out to a 27-7 advantage midway through the second quarter and led by as many as 26 points in the game.

The Bearcats tried to make a game of it in the fourth quarter with a pressure defense, which produced an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to 14 points, but it was too little, too late. Beeler’s offensive-rebound basket and a Crane layup with just over two minutes left stopped Bonita’s momentum and secured the win for Ocean View.

Jeran Carr led Bonita with 17 points.