Boys basketball: Eagles chop down Timberwolves

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Three down, one to go.

That’s the mentality of the Estancia High boys basketball game,

following Tuesday night’s thrilling 54-49 Pacific Coast League win over

visiting Northwood.

“We’ve been saying since the beginning of last week that our playoffs

are underway,” Estancia Coach Rich Sorce said. “Thursday night’s game

against University will be like a championship game for us.”

Eliasar Maldonado led the Eagles (10-14, 5-4 in league) with 18

points, while Micah Young and Kenny Valbuena each added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“Our kids are playing so hard right now,” Sorce said. “We’re playing

on pure Adrenalin. We’re battling some nagging injuries and the flu bug,

but I don’t think it’ll be too hard to get them up for Uni on Thursday.”

The key to the Eagles’ success came in the first four minutes and the

final four minutes. Estancia started the game with a 12-4 run and ended

the first quarter with a 19-10 advantage.

The Eagles’ traditional “one bad quarter” took place in the second

when the Timberwolves (18-7, 5-4) outscored Estancia, 16-5, and led by two at the half.

“I told the guys in the locker room, ‘Look, you had your one bad

quarter and you’re still only down by two points,’ ” Sorce said. “We just

had to execute on offense and pick up our defensive intensity.”

Timberwolves’ standout shooter Drew Terry led the way with 22 points,

but was held to only seven second-half points.

Kenny Valbuena helped the Eagles’ offense in the third quarter. The

senior scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds, but the Eagles

trailed, 42-37, after three.

It was still a five-point Timberwolves’ advantage with four minutes

remaining when the Eagles’ defense put a vice grip on Northwood’s

offensive production.

Estancia, on the other hand, went on a 13-3 run in the final four

minutes to pull out the win, hitting 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.

The win sets up a do-or-die road battle with the Trojans Thursday

night at 7:30. The Eagles stunned Uni, 73-65, on Jan. 24. “If we execute

the way we’re capable of, things will fall into place,” Sorce said.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Estancia 54, Northwood 49

Score by Quarters

Northwood 10 16 16 7 - 49 Estancia 19 5 13 17 - 54

Northwood - Terry 22, Bailey 10, Selway 8, Gray 5, Reggero 2, Howard

2.

3-pt. goals - Terry 4.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Estancia - Maldonado 18, Young 12, K. Valbuena 12, D. Valbuena 7,

Cachola 4, Rodriguez 1, Prado 0.

3-pt. goals - Maldonado 2.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.