Mesa edges Buena Park, 61-60

Joseph Boo

ANAHEIM - Watching Costa Mesa Coach Bob Serven yell at his team

going against Buena Park in the Canyon Classic on Wednesday, you would

think his team was losing.

Instead, the Mustangs led for almost the entire game to win, 61-60. The

victory came despite a sluggish Costa Mesa performance and an offensive

rebounding clinic from Buena Park.

“Well, it’s better to win these games than to lose,” Serven said.

The Mustangs will face Canyon in the fifth-place game today, at 1:30 p.m.

Costa Mesa (11-4) won because it bounced back strong from an atrocious

shooting performance in the previous game against Crescenta Valley. In

fact, the Mustangs shot just under 60 % in the game.

Buena Park (8-6) stayed close with defense and rebounds. The Coyotes

grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the game to get second and third

chances. They also forced 16 turnovers.

“We let their physicality get to us,” Serven said.

But Buena Park had the lead for about a minute in the entire game. Costa

Mesa got plenty of offense from Nate Jones and Ryan Naff, who scored 16

and 14 points, respectively. Steve Whittaker and Rick Hatsushi each

scored seven points with one three-pointer.

“We seem to have an answer offensively,” Serven said. “When they scored

points, we answered right back.”

The Mustangs took the largest lead of the game at 59-50 with 1:30 left in

the fourth as they hit three three-pointers. Buena Park then reeled off

seven points in a row. But Costa Mesa’s David Weir hit two free throws

with 13 seconds left to give his team a four-point lead, and that made

Buena Park’s desperation three at the end a moot point.

CANYON CLASSIC

Costa Mesa 61, Buena Park 60 Score by Quarters

Buena Park 14 13 14 19 - 60

Costa Mesa 16 13 13 19 - 61

Buena Park - Gipson 15, Buzzini 11, Rodriguez 11, Ingram 8, Salas 3,

Barker 2, Ikahihifo 8, Johnson 0, Manzanilla 2, Lee 0.

3-pt. goals - Buzzini 2, Gipson 2, Salas 1.

Fouled out - Jones 1.

Technicals - None.

Costa Mesa - Jones 16, Naff 14, Hatsushi 7, Whittaker 7, Payne 4,

Ferryman 6, Conte 5, Weir 2.

3-pt. goals - Naff 2, Conte 1, Whittaker 1, Hatsushi 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.