Estancia misfires in loss

SANTA ANA — The day before the Estancia High boys’ basketball team took the court Thursday, Santa Ana figured out who would catch the ball and shoot from the same area practically all the time.

A phone call to the Eagles’ season-opening opponent’s coach took care of that for Santa Ana Coach Scott Tenchka.

“I spoke to the Irvine coach [Kris Klamberg],” Tenchka said. “So I kind of had a little scouting report.”

On No. 10, Troy McClanahan, the player who stands behind the three-point line like someone waiting for the bus. He rarely moved inside to take an easier jumper against the Saints.

The junior made three three-pointers, but Estancia was just six of 27 from beyond the arc as a team (22.2%), allowing Santa Ana to cruise to a 53-36 nonleague victory at home.

“We couldn’t buy [a three-pointer],” first-year Estancia coach Agustin Heredia said. “[The Saints] were hitting their [three-pointers].”

Uncharacteristic of Santa Ana (4-2) to take three-pointers with 6-foot-6 center Omar Mena and 6-5 forward Rick Mares clogging the paint.

But when Estancia collapsed on the two down low, the shots were there to knock down seven three-pointers. And the Saints knocked down their first five attempts by halftime en route to handing Estancia its 22nd straight loss dating back to last season.

Early on, the Eagles (0-2) were on the verge of turning this one into a game and possibly their first victory since beating Los Amigos on Dec. 5, 2006.

Forward Micah Zirbel tied it at 12-12 on a layup early in the second quarter. But the intensity on defense that forced Santa Ana into seven turnovers in the opening quarter, faded midway through the second.

Santa Ana closed the half with a 16-2 run and jumped ahead, 31-16. When the Eagles missed six three-pointers in the second, guard Julio Cruz hit one and so did guard Abraham Granados during the spurt in which they combined for 13 points.

Cruz, who led the team with 11 points, and Granados, who added 10, would combine for two points the rest of the way. The duo didn’t have to produce as Estancia’s offensive woes continued in the second half.

McClanahan, the lone returning starter off a 2-24 team, finally hit a three with 4:55 left in the third quarter. He finished with nine points. The only two other field goals the Eagles made in the third came on a putback and layup, as they finished three of 15 from the field.

“Offensively, we’re a little bit behind,” said Heredia, whose team made 28% of its field-goal attempts. “With the exception of their big guys, I thought we matched up well with them. I think if we would’ve made some shots, it would’ve been a lot closer.

“We want [McClanahan] to be a little flexible [with his shot selection] because everybody is going to be videotaping our games and they are going to know that he shoots [three-pointers]. We’re going to try to encourage him to put the ball on the floor.”

Nonleague Santa Ana 53, Estancia 36

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Est – McClanahan 9, Fryslie 9, Neumann 6, Thomas 6, Jones 4, Zirbel 2.

3-pt. goals – McClanahan 3, Thomas 2, Neumann 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

SA – Cruz 11, Granados 10, Mares 8, Correa 7, Zambrano 5, Mena 3, Mendoza 3, Cardona 2, Bello 2, Garcia 2.

3-pt. goals – Cruz 2, Granados 2, Zambrano 1, Mendoza 1, Correa 1.

Fouled out - None.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.