Marina boys’ basketball upsets Edison on Eric Hodgkins’ buzzer-beating three-pointer

Marina High freshman Eric Hodgkins had not scored the entire game.

Still, he was ready when his number was called Friday night at rival Edison in a Sunset Conference crossover game.

Hodgkins took a pass from senior Jakob Alamudun and banked in a three-pointer from the right at the buzzer, lifting the Vikings to a 56-55 upset victory over the Chargers.

Marina coach Nick Racklin said it was the first time he had beaten Edison in his eight years as coach, adding that it snapped an 0-20 streak against the Chargers overall.

“I gave the ball to my best player [Alamudun], and let him do what he had to do,” Racklin said. “That’s a freshman that made that shot. He made five threes in our last game, so I knew he could shoot the ball. My assistants told me to sub him in, and I did.”

Alamudun led Marina with 18 points but missed a couple of layups late. He took the inbound pass after Edison’s Aiden Garrett made a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining, giving the hosts a 55-53 lead.

Alamudun, a Lehigh commit, dribbled up the left sideline before firing the ball crosscourt to Hodgkins.

“To his credit, the last 3½ years he would have shot the ball no matter what,” Racklin said. “He’s become very unselfish this year, and he passed that ball. That’s a testament to what he’s become. He’s a Division 1 basketball player and now he’s really becoming one.”

Ethan Barnella had 12 points for Marina (11-9), all on four three-pointers. Dean Keeler scored eight points.

Kaden Headington scored 16 points for Edison (14-7), which trailed much of the night. Garnett also had 16 points, and Justin Strauss scored 10.

Garrett’s two late free throws accounted for Edison’s only lead of the second half.

“We battled and battled,” Edison coach Rich Boyce said. “We were a little undersized, but we battled right until the end and had a chance. That’s all you can ask for really … We were playing from behind the whole night, and that takes a lot of energy out of you. But when we took the lead, we thought we had a good shot.

“[Hodgkins’ shot] was a once-in-a-lifetime shot, so congratulations to him. They probably deserved it, because they played hard all night too. It was just a good Sunset Conference game.”

Hodgkins’ shot accounted for the only points in the final 3:40 of the game for Marina. But it was enough to lift the Vikings to the victory.

“I thought it was a turnover,” Hodgkins said. “I didn’t think [Alamudun’s pass] was going to get there. Then it was in my hands, and I knew there wasn’t much time left. I had to get it up.

“I wasn’t expecting it to go in. My name was called, and I just had to be ready for it.”

Marina concludes Sunset Conference crossover action with a game at Corona del Mar on Wednesday, while Edison plays at Fountain Valley.

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Sunset Conference

Marina 56, Edison 55

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Marina 19 – 10 – 14 – 13 — 56

Edison 13 – 14 – 9 – 19 — 55

M – Alamudun 18, Barnella 12, Keeler 8, Fronek 6, Aguirre 6, Hodgkins 3, Webster 3.

3-pt. goals – Barnella 4, Aguirre 2, Hodgkins 1, Alamudun 1, Keeler 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

E – Headington 16, Garrett 16, Strauss 10, Collins 8, Horton 5.

3-pt. goals – Collins 2, Headington 1, Strauss 1, Horton 1.

Fouled out – Horton.

Technicals – None.

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