Boys basketball: Eagles survive scare

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Fittingly, the game’s defining moment was a

coast-to-coast dribble and layup by the tallest player on the court

Friday night at Estancia High.

While Estancia 6-foot-7 center Joey Lindquist converted a three-point

play on the drive, which broke a tie and put the Eagles ahead for good,

it wasn’t the only thing a little off balance in the Eagles’ 62-53

Pacific Coast League boys basketball victory.

“Ever seen a coach have a heart attack? I just about peeled over,”

Estancia Coach Chris Sorce said of Lindquist’s high-dribbling,

length-of-the-floor drive down the middle with 4:02 left, snapping a

47-47 deadlock.

The game between Newport-Mesa District rivals began much different

than either coach had planned. Upset-minded Corona del Mar Coach Ryan

Curry opened with four starters on the bench, rewarding four others with

starting nods because of hard work.

“Then they jump out to a 21-7 lead -- and without four of their

starters,” Sorce said of the Sea Kings (4-15, 0-2 in the PCL), who

outscored the hosts, 16-7, in the first quarter and scored the second

period’s first five points.

Estancia (10-8, 1-1) rallied in the second quarter as Zack Novak

capped a 15-3 Eagle scoring run with a three-point play on a layup with

0:02 remaining.

“We played (the Eagles) pretty even down the stretch,” Curry said,

“but when we needed a great play, they ended up getting two great plays

to go ahead -- Lindquist going coast-to-coast and Fernando Maldonado

hitting a three-pointer -- and we just couldn’t recover.”

After Lindquist put Estancia in front, 50-47, Maldonado was fouled on

a three-pointer with 2:38 left, giving the Eagles a six-point lead.

Maldonado missed the ensuing free throw and chance at a four-point play.

“I told our kids this was a good hurt,” Curry said. “You played hard

and somebody just beat you.”

Lindquist finished with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds before

fouling out.

“Joey Lindquist is capable of a double-double every night if he comes

to play like that,” Sorce said. “He has untapped ability. If he puts his

mind to it, he could go far in this game. He dominated the game on both

ends of the floor, and Maldonado (16 points and nine rebounds) and Jorge

Prado (19 points) did a nice job knocking down shots from the outside. We

had nice balance.”

Prado hit 9 of 12 free throws, while Lindquist was 8 of 11 from the

stripe.

Kevin Mancillas came off the bench to lead CdM with 12 points,

including two three-pointers late in the first quarter as the Sea Kings

built a surprisingly large lead. Pancho Seaborn added 10 points for CdM.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Estancia 62, Corona del Mar 53

Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 16 12 12 13 - 53 Estancia 7 22 14 19 - 63

Corona del Mar - Najar 2, Matsen 8, Hildebrandt 0, Sherick-Odom 2,

Welch 3, Northridge 7, Seaborn 10, Glass 9, Mancillas 12.

3-pt. goals - Matsen 2, Mancillas 2, Northridge 2, Seaborn 2, Glass 1.

Fouled out - Glass, Seaborn.

Technicals - none.

Estancia - Cachola 0, Prado 19, Lindquist 22, Pinto 0, Maldonado 16,

Snell 2, Novak 3, Valdes 0, Andersen 0.

3-pt. goals - Maldonado 3, Prado 2.

Fouled out - Lindquist.

Technicals - none.