Boys basketball: CdM tops Mesa in overtime

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - On a night when the first round of Pacific Coast

League boys basketball wars appeared to have rendered Costa Mesa High and

host Corona del Mar sapped and sluggish, one player was as crisp as the

night ocean air.

CdM senior Judd Hietbrink scored all of his career-high 19 points in

regulation, then let teammate Kevin Hansen dominate in overtime as the

Sea Kings prevailed, 49-47.

“Judd was huge tonight,” said CdM Coach Paul Orris, who was as pleased

with the 6-foot-3 forward’s defense as his rare scoring outburst.

“I was getting the open shot, coach told me to take it, and I was feeling

good,” said Hietbrink, who had scored in double figures only once before

(12 on Dec. 30 against Trabuco Hills) in this, his first varsity

campaign.

Hietbrink hit a trio of three-pointers (one from the baseline, one from

the wing and one from the top of the key), as well as two additional

field goals, to help the hosts seize a 20-11 lead with 2:41 left in the

first half.

But, though Mesa had gone 9:07 without a field goal after it jumped out

to a 4-0 lead, the Mustangs scored the final 10 points to lead, 21-20, at

intermission.

Mesa (16-6, 2-2 in league and ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section

Division III-AA) upped the advantage to 30-25 after three periods, then

survived a brief CdM surge to build a 37-34 edge with 2:37 left in

regulation.

But Hietbrink, whose 6-foot leaner after and up-and-under move in the key

tied it at 34, took a baseline feed from Kevin Hansen, leaped toward the

basket, and banked in a runner before being undercut and landing on the

back of his head.

“I saw a little blurry at first, and I had to ask my coach if the shot

went in,” said Hietbrink, who was forced to let a substitute attempt the

subsequent free throw, which could have tied it at 37. But his

replacement misfired with 2:26 left in regulation.

Hansen, the focus of Mesa’s box-and-one defense who collected 13 of his

17 points after third quarter, converted a steal into a layup to put CdM,

No. 5 in CIF Division III-AA, on top by one. He then netted a pair of

free throws with 19 seconds left for a 40-37 lead.

But junior Steve Whittaker connected from beyond the arc to tie it with

eight seconds left and a long CdM misfired on a long jumper at the buzzer

to induce the four-minute extra session.

CdM (14-6, 2-2) scored the first six points of overtime, but consecutive

three-pointers by Rick Hatsushi and Ryan Naff forged another deadlock

with 1:57 left.

A Hansen follow shot with 1:30 remaining gave his team the lead for good,

as CdM senior point guard Alec Hanson forced a five-second call with six

seconds left to help secure the crucial triumph, which leaves CdM and

Mesa tied for third, behind league co-leaders Laguna Beach and

University.

“We needed this win,” said Hietbrink, who is anxious to get back to

league play, which resumes Friday, after a week of semester finals. The

Sea Kings visit Saddleback Wednesday for a nonleague contest.

“I’m ready to go,” Hietbrink quipped, after his career night, which

included 8-of-11 shooting from the field, three steals and two assists.

“He took some pressure off us on offense, and I thought he did a good job

on defense, as well,” Orris said of the former cross country runner.

“He’s got the heart of a hummingbird, so he can go and go and go.”

Hansen, who like Hanson missed several first-half minutes due to foul

trouble, chipped in 12 rebounds and six steals.

Naff finished with 17 points and 11 boards to led the Mustangs.

“We gave the game away,” Mesa Coach Bob Serven said, still livid minutes

after the final buzzer.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 49, Costa Mesa 47 (OT)

Score by Periods

Costa Mesa 4 17 9 10 7 - 47

Corona de Mar 12 8 5 15 9 - 49

Costa Mesa - Naff 17, Jones 11, Whittaker 6, Payne 4, Weir 4, Hatsushi 3,

Conte 2, Ferryman 0.

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

Fouled out - Ferryman, Hatsushi.

Technicals - None.

Corona del Mar - Heitbrink 19, Hansen 17, Shahangian 5, Snell 4,

Patterson 2, Templeton 2, Hanson 0.

3-pt. goals - Hietbrink 3, Snell 1, Shahangian 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.