PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Faulkner’s 34 Help Estancia Tie for Title
Estancia’s Jim Faulkner didn’t have to look far to find motivation for Friday night’s Pacific Coast League game against Laguna Beach.
After all, there was a league title--and a first-round home playoff berth--at stake.
But Faulkner said his 34 points in the Eagles’ 72-63 victory were inspired by reasons more personal than any stakes a high school basketball game offered.
Faulkner dedicated the victory, which clinched a tie for the league title with Trabuco Hills, to family friend Rick Candlish, who was diagnosed with leukemia this week.
“I played the whole game for him,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner, a 6-foot-4 forward who’s headed to Southern Utah State, scored 22 points in the second half, including 14 in the third quarter.
He made 13 of 18 shots from the field, including all four of his three-point attempts, as the Eagles avenged an 80-49 loss to Laguna Beach on Jan. 22.
“Last year’s team was second in the league, second in the section (playoffs) and second in the regional,” Faulkner said. “I know the rest of the seniors this year didn’t want to leave that way.”
This year, the Eagles are going to the playoffs as league champions.
The victory gave Estancia (14-11, 7-3) its second league title in three seasons, broke a two-game losing streak and guaranteed a first-round home game for next Friday’s Division III-AA playoffs. Trabuco Hills, which won its second consecutive title, also will get a first-round home game in Division II-A.
Laguna Beach (13-10, 5-5) finished third in league and qualified for the Division IV-AA playoffs. Fourth-place Century (15-9, 4-6) must petition for an at-large berth in Division I-A.
Leading, 47-46, Estancia opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run keyed by four points from Faulkner and two three-pointers by Joel Warrick. Laguna Beach came no closer than seven the rest of the game.
Faulkner had eight points in the fourth quarter, missing only one shot--a dunk with 37 seconds left in the game.
But Faulkner got a second chance, taking a full-court pass and throwing down a reverse jam with four seconds left.
Clay Frenz scored 12 points and Zach Richardson added 10 for Estancia.
In other league games:
Trabuco Hills 80, Costa Mesa 64--Sophomore Rob Warnick, starting only his fourth game, scored 24 points as the Mustangs clinched their fourth league title in five seasons. Warnick has averaged 18 points as a starter.
Laguna Hills 52, Century 48--Aaron Brunstetter hit four three-pointers, all in the second quarter to help visiting Laguna Hills. Century finished fourth in league but will likely earn a I-A playoff berth with based on its 15 victories, including ones over Trabuco Hills, Estancia and Laguna Beach.