Estancia captures fifth straight

Rick Devereux

It is incredibly difficult to maintain a high energy level game in

and game out during an entire season, and even harder to get excited

for a game following a big win. The players simply get drained.

But, sapped of energy after knocking off seven-time defending

league champion Ocean View High earlier in the week, the Estancia

High boys basketball team was able to handle visiting Saddleback,

55-32, Friday in a Golden West League meeting. It was the fifth

straight win for the Eagles (14-4, 4-0 in league).

“We didn’t play as well [against Saddleback] as we did against

Ocean View,” Estancia senior captain Carlos Pinto said. “We try to

bring our A-game every game but it is very tiring. [Against

Saddleback] it was kind of mellow. We can’t do that against other

teams or else we’ll lose.”

Even a subdued game by the Eagles was too intense for Saddleback,

especially Estancia’s defense.

The second and third quarters proved to be the difference as the

Eagles outscored Saddleback, 30-11, to open up a 24-point lead

heading into the fourth quarter.

Still, Coach Jason Simco was not pleased with the dropoff in play

compared to earlier in the week.

“We do a good job of stopping [the Roadrunners] and not giving

them a good look at the basket, but then we let them get an offensive

rebound,” Simco said. “I’m looking for players that have a desire to

play. At times, we have it.”

Luckily for Estancia, Saddleback was able to only score four

second-chance baskets. The Eagles countered with 10 points following

offensive rebounds, seven coming from Pinto.

Pinto, who finished with a game-high 17 points, was harassed by

the Roadrunner defense from the opening tipoff. The extra attention

dolled out to Pinto resulted in open shooting lanes for his

teammates.

Mike McDaniels had 14 points, nine coming in the first quarter

alone.

“Mike’s been playing well for us,” Simco said. “The whole team

feeds off Carlos, so I write on the [message board in the team room]

before every game, ‘Who else?’ because I want to find out who else

besides Carlos will have a good game for us.”

McDaniels, who has averaged 10.6 points during Estancia’s winning

streak, jump-started the offense by throwing a lob to Dallas Kopp to

open the game and then followed with a three-pointer from the corner.

He also created offense through pressure defense when he stepped in

front of a Saddleback pass and took it the distance for a layup.

“Obviously teams are going to find Carlos,” McDaniels said. “I

just had a couple of opportunities to score.”

Pinto, who has averaged 19.4 points in the win streak, was able to

assist on baskets even when he didn’t touch the ball.

Near the end of the second quarter, McDaniels drove the lane and

faked a pass to the corner where Pinto was located. The Saddleback

defense rotated toward Pinto, leaving McDaniels with an easy layup to

give the Eagles a 26-15 lead at the half.

Estancia smothered the Roadrunners after intermission, jetting out

to a 9-0 run in the first three minutes of the third. Later in the

third, Kopp electrified the crowd when he anticipated a Saddleback

pass and finished his steal with a two-handed dunk.

“Maybe that dunk will get Dallas going,” Simco said. “We want him

to step up every game. Maybe that [dunk] will help.”

Estancia plays host to Santa Ana Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Golden West League

Estancia 55, Saddleback 32

Score by Quarters

*--*

Saddleback 12 3 8 9 -- 32

Estancia 17 9 21 8 -- 55

*--*

Saddleback -- Sanchez 6, Navarro 0, Alejandro 2, Lara 7, Mendoza

2, Gutierrez 0, Lamb 2, Cantoran 1, Vasquez 10, Caballero 2.

3-pt. goals -- Vasquez 2.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Estancia -- C. Pinto 17, McDaniels 14, Sh. Markley 3, Montillo 2,

Kopp 6, Argumedo 2, Verrette 1, Molina 2, Escobedo 3, Hart 3, B.

Pinto 2, Fryslie 0.

3-pt. goals -- B. Pinto 1, McDaniels 1, Sh. Markley 1, Escobedo 1,

Hart 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.