Fort Knox at Costa Mesa

Freshman guard Scott Knox, who scored a career-high 19 points in a

near-upset of Ocean View on Monday, led the way again Wednesday as

Costa Mesa’s Mustangs pulled out a 54-46 nonleague victory over

visiting Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana.

Knox scored 18 points, including three three-pointers, and was

backed up by the play of Jeff Waldron (10 points and 15 rebounds),

Ziad Pepic (11 points) and Danny Krikorian (four assists).

Mesa improved to 5-11.

Elsewhere in nonleague boys basketball Wednesday:

Esperanza 38, CdM 37 -- Corona del Mar nearly pulled out a huge

upset behind the the play of Brett Matsen (16 points) and Adam Freede

(10 points, eight rebounds), but was unable to get off a potential

game-winning shot in the final 10 seconds in the CdM gym.

CdM falls to 6-9. Esperanza improves to 10-6.

Edison 53, Newport Harbor 50 - In a close game from start to

finish, Edison High’s host Chargers outlasted Newport Harbor.

The Chargers (13-2) outscored the Sailors (8-7) in the third

quarter, 17-10, to erase a two-point halftime deficit.

Nedim Pajevic led Newport Harbor with 14 points and 12 rebounds,

while senior guard Chase Cameron scored 12.

Sage Hill 52, Fairmont 51 -- Fairmont’s 11-0 run to start the

third quarter forced the Lightning to rally, then held on for the

nonleague win.

Senior Michael Fitzhugh collected a game-high 20 points and also

led the visitors (5-8) with 13 rebounds and six assists.

Junior Kevin Joyce chipped in 15 points for the winners, who open

Academy League play Friday when they host Brethren Christian.

Fairmont’s Jim Higgs hit five three-pointers to lead the hosts,

who saw a would-be game-winning 15-foot runner carom off the front of

the rim as time expired.

In girls basketball Tuesday:

Northwood 52, Sage Hill 35 - Sage Hill dropped its first game of

the season.

The Lightning (8-1) managed no more than six points in the first

three quarters before tallying 17 in the final eight minutes.

Carrie Clark and Haywood Wright paced the Lightning with 10 points

apiece. Wright grabbed 15 rebounds and had 11 blocks, setting a

career-high in the process.

“It was a huge difference playing for the first time in a couple

of weeks,” said Sage Hill Coach Shanna Renkin. “We gave them a hard

time on defense but all their shots were falling which made the

difference.”