Crosstown firsts

A pair of Costa Mesa crosstown foes top the list of the 2004-’05 boys

basketball All-CIF Southern Section Division III-A selections,

released Tuesday.

Golden West League rivals Scott Knox, a Costa Mesa High senior who

led the Mustangs to a quarterfinal playoff appearance, and Carlos

Pinto, an Estancia senior who led the Eagles to a semifinal berth,

were selected to the All-CIF first team in their division.

Mesa’s Jeff Waldron and Estancia’s Mike McDaniels made the second

team, while Newport Harbor senior Taylor Young was selected to the

Division II-AA second team.

Pinto, the Daily Pilot’s Newport-Mesa Player of the Year, averaged

20.4 points and finished his four-year varsity career with 1,538

points. He led the team in rebounding, blocked shots, steals and

three-pointers (47). The Eagles defeated Nordhoff, 55-50, in the

first round and Orange Lutheran, 68-49, in the second round before

falling to Harvard-Westlake, 81-46, in the semifinals.

Estancia finished the year 23-6 overall and won the league

championship (11-1).

Knox, a Dream Team selection, led the area with 69 three-pointers

and helped the Mustangs achieve their first playoff victory in 42

years. He averaged 13.6 points and scored 23 points, including

five-three pointers in a 65-50 second-round win over Sherman Oaks

Notre Dame.

Mesa finished the year 18-10, 10-2 in league and handed Estancia

its only league loss.

Waldron, a senior, led the Mustangs’ rebounding with 213 on the

year, a 7.6 average, and had 8.8 points per game, second behind Knox.

McDaniels, also a senior, was the Eagles’ No. 2 option and averaged

9.1 points.

Young, a football and basketball Dream Team selection, led the

Sailors with 17.4 points per game and helped Newport reach the

playoff quarterfinals. His inside presence helped him lead the team

in rebounding as Newport finished the year 17-10, 8-2 in the Sea View

League.

The Sailors began the year 1-4, but went 16-6 after Young switched

over from football.