Boys basketball: Mesa ties 36-year-old mark

Richard Dunn

LAGUNA BEACH - On a night when the usual headliners had an unusual

night, members of Costa Mesa High’s supporting cast played leading roles

Thursday night as Coach Bob Serven’s Mustangs tied a school record for

boys basketball victories in a season (18).

With standout senior guard Chad Vakili coming up empty from

three-point territory and senior point guard David Conte in foul trouble,

the Mustangs turned to 6-foot-1 senior forward Carlos Jaime and senior

guard Nolan Clark as they defeated host Laguna Beach, 74-54, in the

Pacific Coast League finale.

“It wasn’t easy, but it’s a good accomplishment to get 18 wins (and

tie the 1966 squad),” said Serven, whose team (18-9, 6-4 in the PCL)

didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter, when Jaime scored 11 of his

career-high 24 points, finishing a perfect 9 of 9 from the field and 6 of

7 from the free-throw line.

Laguna Beach led, 45-43, after Shawn Ridet converted a three-point

play with 0:57 left in the third quarter. But Costa Mesa outscored the

Artists the rest of the way, 31-9.

After Mesa misfired on its first 10 three-point attempts, junior Danny

Krikorian netted the Mustangs’ first trey with 2:33 remaining in the

third quarter.

Krikorian canned his second three-pointer with 0:44 to play in the

third to put the Mustangs ahead for good, 46-45, before Conte scored on a

scoop shot in the quarter’s waning seconds to provide the visitors with a

three-point edge.

Conte (20 points) picked up his fourth foul with 7:00 to play in the

third quarter. He dished out an assist and scored on a short jumper in

the paint before coming out 1:30 later, then returned late in the third

and played most of the fourth without fouling out.

Jaime also had nine rebounds, while Clark scored 12 points, handed out

three assists and grabbed three rebounds.

“They just found me underneath for layups,” Jaime said of his 9-of-9

effort from the floor, mostly following Conte or Clark passes. “All I had

to do was finish. I’m just glad we got our 18th victory.”

The 1966 squad, coached by Jules Gage and led by Bruce Chapman, Craig

Falconer, Bart Carrido and Butch Rollins, went 18-8 and lost in the first

round of the playoffs.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 74, Laguna Beach 54

Score by Quarters

Costa Mesa 15 12 21 26 - 74 Laguna Beach 18 12 15 9 - 54 Costa Mesa - Conte 20, Krikorian 6, Vakili 7, Clark 12, Jaime 24,

Rodriguez 0, Stankovic 2, Kohara 0, Trinh 3, Ball 0.

3-pt. goals - Krikorian 2, Trinh 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Laguna Beach - Lyle 15, Renault 5, Boyd 5, Norfleet 0, Ridet 5, Leahy

10, Sands 6, Duker 5, Stearns 3.

3-pt. goals - Leahy 2, Stearns 1, Renault 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.