Boys basketball: Hoover tops CdM, 62-56

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - After 14 lead changes and eight ties, Hoover High of

Glendale found a way to shake Corona del Mar in the final round of pool

play Thursday in the Coast Christmas Classic at Estancia.

The Tornadoes (4-7) turned to senior guard Fred Akopyan, who scored

eight straight points in the third quarter on four consecutive layups as

the designated hosts broke down the Sea Kings with a successful

half-court trap and rallied for a 62-56 victory.

Akopyan, who poured in a team-high 14 points, scored easily on a fast

break, after a CdM turnover, to tie the game, 37-37, with 3:18 to play in

the third period. It was the game’s eighth and final deadlock as the

Tornadoes outscored the Sea Kings, 18-4, during the decisive stretch,

which lasted deep into the fourth quarter.

Akopyan scored on four successive easy baskets late in the third

quarter, then 6-foot-2 senior reserve forward Brent Fell dropped in a

turnaround baseline jumper to beat the period-ending buzzer and give

Hoover a 45-37 lead.

CdM (2-9) missed its first four field-goal attempts in the fourth

quarter, while Akopyan scored six more points in three straight

possessions as Hoover built a commanding 53-41 advantage with 2:43 left

in the game.

It was Akopyan’s first game back following an illness that caused him

to miss four games.

“Both teams at times seemed like they wanted to give (the game) away,”

Hoover boys basketball coach Kirt Kohlmeier said.

Hoover was also sparked by sophomore guard Armen Bagdhasarian, who

scored all 13 of his points in the first half on 5-of-6 shooting from the

floor, including a 3-of-4 effort from three-point land.

Following the Hoover win, which was more comfortable than the final

six-point margin would indicate because of two CdM three-pointers in the

waning seconds, Kohlmeier was quick to point out that Bagdhasarian’s

older brother, Arbi, was an all-tournament selection for Hoover in the

1995 Coast Christmas Classic.

“That’s our strength, our guards,” said Kohlmeier, whose squad shot

70% from the field in the third quarter (7 of 10) as it pulled away.

For the Sea Kings, they enjoyed several small leads in the first half,

then went ahead, 30-29, early in the second half on a conventional

three-point play by 6-2 senior Eric Snell, who scored a game-high 17

points.

CdM’s final lead came when senior guard Idean Shahangian scored on a

short jumper that was given a customer friendly roll before falling

through the cylinder, providing the Sea Kings with a 37-35 edge while

4:12 remained on the third-quarter clock.

That’s when Hoover started its 18-4 run, thanks to four CdM turnovers

late in the period.

“We didn’t make very good decisions,” CdM Coach Paul Orris said. “Some

of it was because of their pressure, and some of it was our inexperience.

We look like we’re not sure what to do. We take shots we shouldn’t, then

we don’t take shots that we should ... it’s myriad things. (But) I’m

trying to be patient.”

Shahangian (12 points) and Kevin Mancillas (10) also scored in double

figures for CdM, while Zach Brewster had six rebounds and three steals

for the Sea Kings, who play today at 12:40 p.m. in the consolation

semifinals against Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.

Charlie Alshuler added three rebounds and two assists for CdM, while

Mancillas and Eric Glass netted three-pointers in the game’s final 21

seconds to slice CdM’s double-digit deficit.

COAST CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Pool play

Hoover 62, Corona del Mar 56

Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 17 10 10 19 - 56 Hoover 16 13 16 17 - 62 Corona del Mar - Snell 17, Brewster 6, Shahangian 12, K. Mancillas 10,

Alshuler 0, Marsten 2, Richardson 2, Glass 3, B. Mancillas 2, Reynolds 2.

3-pt. goals - K. Mancillas 2, Snell 1, Glass 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technical fouls - None.Hoover - Stepanyan 6, Ismailyan 10, Markossian

7, Bagdhasarian 13, Akopyan 14, Chinivizyan 6, Fell 2, Abernathy 4.

3-pt. goals - Bagdhasarian 3, Markossian 2.

Fouled out - None.

Technical fouls - None.