Prep column: A whole new ballgame at Mesa

Barry Faulkner

The courtside VIP seats were nearly vacant, press row had yet to

arrive and the crowd wasn’t big enough to create much of an atmosphere

one-third of the way through Saturday’s nine-game Nike Extravaganza VI.

But for the Costa Mesa High boys basketball program, taking the court

at Long Beach State’s Pyramid against St. John Bosco for an 11:30 a.m.

tipoff, was a fleeting taste of the big time.

And Coach Bob Serven hopes it only serves to whet the Mustangs’

appetite for success.

Mesa players, in fact, satisfied their appetite Friday night,

celebrating the first sweep of crosstown rival Estancia in 33 years with

the now-traditional postgame rib dinner that goes to the annual series

winner. The Mustangs also own the perpetual Victory Bell trophy for the

first time since it was created.

This historic event followed the school’s first win over Corona del

Mar in 18 seasons. And, with at least five games remaining (including

what will be only the sixth CIF Southern Section playoff game in the

school’s 41-year varsity history), the Mustangs are, for the second

straight year, zeroing in on the single-season victory record of 18 set

by the 1965-66 squad.

Saturday, they led a solid Bosco team (17-5) most of the second-half,

until the Braves rallied to force overtime and win, 63-60.

To understand just how remarkable Mesa’s ascendancy to respectability

has been in nearly two seasons under Serven (17-10 last season, followed

by 14-8 so far this year), one must consider the program’s history.

*The four seasons before Serven, the last man to lead Newport Harbor

to a Sea View League title (the Sailors shared the crown in 1990)

arrived, Mesa went 15-83.

*The Mustangs’ best back-to-back victory total prior to Serven’s

tenure was 30, accomplished when the 1964-65 and 1966-67 squads wrapped

12-win seasons around Coach Jules Gage’s 18-8 playoff team.

*Serven, who, after a four-season term at Newport, ran the defense for

Jerry DeBusk at Santa Margarita High, is 31-18 as his second season

continues tonight at home against league-leading University. That victory

total is more than 11 of the 14 men to previously coach the Mustangs

posted. Gage, the school’s inaugural coach, is the career victory leader

with 72 in six seasons.

*The Mustangs have never won a playoff game, nor a league title.

The program’s upswing has not been fueled by transcendent talent. None

of the seniors who contributed to last year’s team are playing

collegiately and none of Serven’s current seniors figure to play beyond

the NAIA level next year.

This is not to say the last two teams have not included quality high

school players. These two squads have, perhaps, had more talent than Mesa

saw during the 1990s.

Still, this year’s top-eight rotation includes only one player taller

than the average super market box boy. And, at least one starter was a

backup on last year’s junior varsity.

But, clearly, the difference is the red-faced bald guy in the warm-up

suit, whose passion is so boundless, it often spills beyond the confines

of constructive criticism.

Those who sit near the Costa Mesa bench may wonder how his kids put up

with his sometimes oppressive intensity. But, players who take the game

seriously, like senior Steve Whittaker, swear by Serven’s coaching skill.

Even those who question his sideline volatility, can’t begrudge Serven

his basketball knowledge. His aggressive two-three zone defense became a

Santa Margarita trademark and Mesa squads have surrendered more than 60

points just four times the last 20 games. The 29 points CdM managed last

week against Mesa were the fewest in 89 games for the Sea Kings.

And watching his teams move the ball to find the open man, most often

beyond the three-point arc, can resemble an offensive clinic.

Serven claims ignorance when asked about Mesa’s long-standing

struggles, choosing to dwelling not on the past but on his desire to

build a program the players, school and community can be proud of.

Watching the Mustangs compete under the expansive Pyramid Saturday,

one couldn’t help but think he’s well on his way.