Sunset basketball league heats up

The Sunset League boys’ and girls’ basketball races reach the midway point today and Friday, and if the first few weeks of action is any indication of what is to come then the chase for league championships in both races figures to go down to the wire.

Entering this week’s action, Los Alamitos took an early lead on the rest of the boys’ pack.

In girls’ play, Esperanza was the league’s lone undefeated team after rallying past Marina.

The Sea View League and Golden West League races both got underway in the past week, and the boys’ and girls teams at Huntington Beach and Ocean View all entered this week’s action in first-place in their respective leagues.

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In boys’ action

Los Alamitos grabbed sole possession of first-place in the standings by winning 71-43 at Edison. Both teams had entered the game 2-0 in league play.

Just two days prior, Edison had survived against Newport Harbor, winning 63-62.

“We played like a tired team,” Edison Coach Rich Boyce said of the Chargers’ home court loss to Los Alamitos. “Maybe the big win versus Newport took it out of us but we ran into a team that was hungry and ready. We were down four at half but we were outscored, out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-coached by 20 points in the third (quarter).

“Los Al played great all night and deserved the win.”

In the 63-62 win at Newport Harbor, which Boyce described as a “very good team win,” Kyle Boswell scored the last of his 32 points on a goal tending call with 24 seconds to play to give Edison the lead. The Sailor had three chances at the basket in the final 24 seconds, but couldn’t convert.

“We played one of our best games of the year against an extremely tough and very well-coached Harbor team,” Boyce said. “Everyone contributed.”

Eric Ferraro and Nick Capriccio each scored 10 points, with two of Capriccio’s coming on a key tip-in when Newport Harbor was starting to pull away in the second half.

“The Sunset League is one of the most competitive leagues in Orange County,” Boyce said. “Anyone can beat anyone on any night. We feel good with two good road wins but Los Al took one from us at home. We remain confident and will be ready for the remaining league games.”

Marina staged a late rally at Esperanza that eventually came up short, and the Vikings ended up on the losing end of a 74-65 score. The Aztecs held a 10-point lead throughout most of the game but Marina cut the deficit to five points with a minute to play.

The Vikings could get no closer.

Brendan Holmes scored 22 points behind seven three-point baskets, Garrett James had 12 points and four assists, Jimmy Irvin and Chad Lewis scored eight and six points, respectively, and Andrew Moore collected seven rebounds.

In the Sea View League, Huntington Beach climbed to 2-0 with an easy, 81-56 win over visiting Trabuco Hills. Nick Becker scored 10 of the Oilers’ first 12 points of the final quarter en route to a game-high 33 points. The senior left the game with 4:31 to play with Huntington well in control.

Zach Kimber and Nick Neser each scored 15 points for the Oilers.

In the Golden West League, Ocean View began defense of its title with a pair of wins, most recent was a 66-56 home win over Segerstrom in which the Seahawks outscored the Jaguars by 14 points in the fourth quarter to get the victory.

Four Seahawks scored in double figures led by Anthony Pancoast’s 16 points. Takeshi Clifford scored 14 points, Brandon Ishimoto had 13 points and five assists and Ryan Okwudibonye scored 12 points and hauled in eight rebounds.

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In girls’ action

A battle of 2-0 teams in the Sunset League saw Esperanza rally to outscore Marina by 11 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 53-48 victory. Rita Sitvi scored a game-high 18 points for Marina and teammate Emily Boelsems contribute 17 points.

Edison turned in an impressive first-half performance on the road and went on to rout Los Alamitos, 57-27 to win its second-straight Sunset game. The Chargers turned a 22-7 first-quarter lead into 38-14 halftime advantage.

Priscilla Cergol poured in a game-best 18 points, Bonnie Samuelson scored 13, and Kelly Peterson added seven points and came up with 12 steals for the Chargers.

Huntington Beach won its first two Sea View League outings, defeating both Northwood and Trabuco Hills.

The defending champion Oilers jumped out to an 11-2 first-quarter lead at Northwood and went on to claim a 44-36 victory. The host Timberwolves could get no closer than four points the remainder of the game.

Noelani Viloria hit four three-point shots and finished with 15 points, Sarah Hoagland had 13 points and Chelsey Pineger had eight rebounds and eight steals for the Oilers.

Huntington then went on to trounce visiting Trabuco Hills, 62-21. Viloria came up with a 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals performance while Jasmine Erving had 11 points, 11 rebounds and blocked three shots. Hoagland had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

“Jasmine Erving is about 80% and is starting to get her basketball legs back,” Huntington Coach Russell McClurg said of the injured Erving. “Even when double and sometimes triple teamed, she is finding a way to get her teammates involved.”

Huntington stepped out of league play Saturday to face Santa Margarita in the Adidas Challenge, and the Oilers had a five-game win streak ended by the Eagles, 47-45, at Concordia College. Eving came up with a huge game, getting 22 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots in loss to the county’s second-ranked team.

“Noelani Viloria’s leadership and poise under pressure has been very valuable this year,” McClurg said. “Sarah Hoagland and Chelsey Pineger have steadily improved and have been solid rebounders this season.”

Ocean View moved to 2-0 in Golden West League play when the defending league champion Seahawks defeated visiting Segerstrom, 43-37. Kelsey Harris led all scorers with 13 points, hitting three three-point shots to go along with three assists. Clarissa Holz scored 10 points and collected seven rebounds.