Mesa duo sours Pinto’s return

COSTA MESA — The Pinto is back.

Not the car, but point guard Blake Pinto with Estancia High. It appeared the team’s leading scorer would miss the remainder of the season after Coach Scott Kahawai removed him from the team due to disciplinary reasons.

The two weren’t on speaking terms for a week, but Pinto didn’t want the ball taken away from him in his last season. And, not before making another appearance in the Estancia-Costa Mesa boys’ basketball rivalry.

Pinto made up with his first-year coach and he came out pumped in his first start back, pounding his chest before battling Costa Mesa. The energy lasted for a half, then someone other than Kahawai decided to take the ball from Pinto.

Moses Titus picked Pinto a handful of times, giving him a career-best 10 steals to go with 24 points and lead visiting Costa Mesa to a 63-51 Orange Coast League victory Friday.

“In my four years here at Estancia, I don’t ever remember him being that annoying,” said Pinto of Titus. “He’s one of the only guards that can rip the ball from me.”

Pinto grinned afterward, something he rarely has done during Estancia’s downtrodden season. He’s just glad to be back on the court with the Eagles (2-18, 0-3 in league). So was Kahawai.

“We hadn’t spoken for a week, which was why we weren’t sure how things were going to play out,” said Kahawai of Pinto, who missed one game. “We had a long meeting [Monday] and both of us came to an understanding. He has really made an effort to be the great team player, great teammate, and picking up the guys.

“We really try to make sure to get everyone involved. Things have gotten a lot better.”

The improvement showed in the first half as Estancia hung, 29-29, with Costa Mesa (14-7, 2-1) despite being without starter Taylor McClanahan, who suffered a broken nose in practice.

Pinto poured in 12 points in the first half, and sophomore Troy McClanahan added nine points, coming on three three-pointers.

Could the Eagles stop a 13-game slide? No. Titus, Larry Puente and Hung Duong took over for Costa Mesa to start the second half.

Titus recorded three steals in the third, hit two huge three-pointers and a layup, Duong knocked down two three-pointers, too, and then Puente took over, scoring eight points, as the Mustangs went on a 22-7 run.

The senior trio accounted for all of the points during the spurt, building a 51-36 lead, all but putting Pinto out of commission.

“[Titus] was on [Pinto] like white on rice,” said Puente, who scored a game-high 26 points to go with 21 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Pinto scored only four points in the second half. He added eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

“I kind of read him a little and I’m used to how he dribbles, like his crossovers,” said Titus, who made four three-pointers in the second half after missing five three-pointers in the first half. “I just gambled sometimes. Pinto’s their man.”

The Eagles’ hope so.

Orange Coast League

Costa Mesa 63,

Estancia 51

Score by Quarters

Costa Mesa

12

17

22

12

—

63

Estanica

14

15

10

12

—

51

Costa Mesa-- Puente 26, Titus 24, Duong 11, Molina 2.

3-pt. goals -- Titus 4, Duong 2, Puente 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Estancia -- Pinto 16, Tr. McClanahan 13, Castellanos 10, McKendry 4, Fryslie 3, McDonald 3, Hart 2.

3-pt. goals -- Tr. McClanahan 4, Pinto 2, Fryslie 1, Castellanos 1.

Fouled out -- None.