Boys basketball: Mesa rallies to stun Uni in OT

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High seniors David Conte and Chad Vakili

combined for 53 points after halftime to help the host Mustangs turn a

48-22 halftime deficit into an 88-85 Pacific Coast League boys basketball

victory in overtime Friday night.

“It was the most unbelievable half of basketball I’ve ever been a part

of,” Mesa Coach Bob Serven said of the comeback, which culminated in

overtime, after three of his starters had fouled out. “I was so stunned,

I didn’t even get excited.”

Conte, who had nine points at halftime, finished with 39, including 15

of 15 foul shots after the break. Five of the latter came in one sequence

after a Uni player fouled him beyond the three-point line, then received

a technical foul. The five free throws put Mesa up, 74-73, with about a

minute remaining. After a Dan Trihn basket upped the lead to three, Uni

hit three free throws to send it into overtime.

Mesa scored the first five points of OT and never looked back.

Vakili finished with 29 points, while Nolan Clark added 11 for the

winners.

“Conte and Vakili were awesome in the second half,” Uni Coach Mike

Dinneen said.

BOYS

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 88, University 85 (OT)

Score by Periods

University 22 26 4 24 9 - 85

Costa Mesa 6 16 28 26 12 - 88

University - G. Asnon 9, J. Asnon 21, Moskus 29, Feistel 5, Gomez 19,

Whelihan 2.

3-pt. goals - Gomez 3, G. Asnon 3, J. Asnon 3, Feistel 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - Feistel 1.

Costa Mesa - Conte 39, Vakili 29, Rodriguez 2, Krikorian 5, Jaime 0,

Clark 11, Trinh 2, Kohara 0, Ball 0, Rowe 0.

3-pt goals - Vakili 5, Conte 4, Krikorian 1, Clark 1.

Fouled out - Jaime, Rodriguez, Vakili.

Technicals - none.