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.
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