Costa Mesa ousted from chase for title

SANTA ANA — Senior night hasn’t turned out the way Costa Mesa High expected.

This time, the Mustangs’ watched the opposition honor its seniors and parents before the game, though they too stood under the spotlight.

In a must-win boys’ basketball game at Calvary Chapel Monday, Costa Mesa came out rusty, three days after doing so in a game featuring two first-place Orange Coast League teams.

Ousted from the top after losing to Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa found itself no longer in contention for the league championship after Calvary Chapel won, 44-39.

For the second consecutive league game, Costa Mesa faced a program missing its premier scorer. And it couldn’t take advantage of Calvary Chapel forward Caleb Burgess being out with an injured ankle.

More than a handful of times in the fourth quarter, Costa Mesa (16-10, 4-4 in league), ranked No. 13 in CIF Southern Section Division III-A, forgot to box out on defensive rebounds.

Calvary Chapel (17-8, 6-2), ranked No. 12 in CIF Division III-A, crashed the boards, helping itself to a handful of second-chance points en route to setting up Wednesday’s final league game at Laguna Beach (6-2 in league) that will determine the league champ.

It wasn’t supposed to play out this way to Costa Mesa’s Larry Puente. Tuesday, the 6-foot-4 senior lifted the team to the top, where Laguna Beach and Calvary Chapel stood. Now he understands why his team has fallen and has no shot of claiming a second consecutive league title.

Another all-around effort by Puente, who finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks and four steals, wasn’t enough against the Eagles.

“We just got caught watching the ball, like a lot,” Puente said. “We couldn’t rebound. It was hard to concentrate for some people [on senior night], because they’ve never been in that kind of spotlight.

“Pretty much everyone is watching. I’d block it, and no one would go to get the loose ball.”

Puente had three blocks in the final quarter. He’s now hoping the Mustangs will gain an at-large bid into the playoffs. Every team with at least 12 wins has advanced to the postseason for several years.

The Mustangs finish the regular season Wednesday at Estancia.

“We have to beat Estancia first and it’s not going to be easy,” said Costa Mesa first-year coach Jeff McDaniel, whose team is 2-0 against its cross-town rival.

But if the Mustangs come out the way they did at Calvary Chapel, an upset is possible and Estancia could close out the year with one league victory.

McDaniel saw his team score only six points in the first quarter. Calvary Chapel didn’t do much better, posting four.

The pace picked up in the second quarter, much of it because Puente and guard Hung Duong, who combined for the team’s 13 points.

Duong was on fire, making three three-pointers before putting Costa Mesa ahead, 19-15, at halftime.

Costa Mesa trailed, 42-39, and had a chance to tie with a three-pointer. But with less than five seconds remaining, the Mustangs’ three-point try failed.

Orange Coast League

Calvary Chapel 44,

Costa Mesa 39

Score by Quarters

Costa Mesa

6

13

6

14

— 39

Cal. Chapel

4

11

13

16

— 44

Costa Mesa -- Puente 18, Duong 10, Titus 6, Nguyen 3, Weber 2.

3-pt. goals -- Duong 3, Titus 1, Nguyen 1.

Fouled out -- Huynh.

Technicals -- None.

Calvary Chapel -- Goodfriend 14, De Luca 9, Morphis 8, Godwin 5, Sherman 2, Trodahl 2, Steinhaus 2, Klubnikin 2.

3-pt. goals -- De Luca 3, Goodfriend 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.