Breakthrough year ends for Estancia

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — The odds were stacked high against Estancia High Friday night, and its boys’ basketball team could not overcome them.

The Eagles’ breakthrough season came to an end after a 77-19 loss to top-seeded Renaissance Acacademy in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division III-A playoffs.

Estancia felt the sting of a blowout loss that included a running clock in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles tried to find contentment in a year that saw them go 14-14 a year after finishing 2-24.

“We ran into a juggernaut,” said first-year Estancia Coach Agustin Heredia, whose team finished second in the Orange Coast League. “I knew we had to shoot well, like 100%, and I knew we couldn’t athletically compete with them.”

As far as playoff victories go, there aren’t many that are more flawless than the one Renaissance delivered.

From the opening tip of their victory, the host Wildcats dominated every facet of the game and in the process delivered a message to the rest of the division, which includes defending champion Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings, who also had a bye in the first round, began their playoffs with a 62-41 victory Friday at CdM.

Justin Cook poured in 20 points and Tremaine Tatum added 16 points to pace the Wildcats, who are on a mission to capture a CIF title that has narrowly avoided them the past three seasons. Renaissance fell in the CIF title game each of those years, the latter to Corona del Mar.

“It’s good for us to play like this, but we are just trying to get ready for the next round and hopefully finally get over the hump we’ve had the last three years,” said senior Renaissance guard Yader Combs, who finished with four points and four assists. “We are trying to finish and get that ring.”

The victory vaults Renaissance (23-2) into the CIF quarterfinals.

Estancia, which beat Santa Fe, 73-64, in a first-round game Wednesday, trailed, 73-16, after three quarters. The Eagles had no answer for the Wildcats’ size and athleticism as they were outrebounded, 42-17, on the night, 27-4 in the first half.

The 19 points surrendered by Renaissance is the lowest amount they’ve given up in a game this season. The Eagles were only able to convert six field goals the entire contest and scored their season low.

“These guys know what it takes,” Renaissance Coach Sid Cooke said. “We’ve had some bad games this year, but they are veterans and they know you’ve got to turn it up two or three notches. We know the defense starts everything off.”

A Barry Fryslie jumper gave the Eagles their first points of the game, but the Wildcats closed the quarter on a 16-4 run, punctuated by a Tatum layup to lead 27-7 after a quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same as Renaissance’s Josh Thomas scored seven of his 11 points to help the Wildcats surge ahead 52-12 at the intermission.

“It was the first time we’ve had everybody healthy in the last two months,” said Cooke, who had six players haul in at least five rebounds. “So we’ve been waiting for this. We’re really happy and fortunate everybody is back playing. Hopefully we can make a nice run.”

Cook, who tallied four steals and four assists, and Thomas have missed portions of the season with nagging injuries, but showed no lingering effects on Friday.

The Eagles were led by Barry Fryslie’s four points and five rebounds, while Tim Neumann, Kohl Jones and Troy McClanahan all chipped in three points. Estancia senior Mark Allred, who scored a career-high 29 points in the win over Santa Fe, finished with two points.

While it wasn’t the way Estancia wanted to close out its season, Heredia was pleased with the progress his team showed this year.

“We got hot at the end when it counted and the kids played hard all year for me,” he said. “I couldn’t be any happier. Right now it kind of hurts losing that big, but overall we are proud and feel good about what we’ve done this year.”

CIF Southern Section Division III-A

Second round

Renaissance Academy 77, Estancia 19

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Estancia – Fryslie 4, Neumann 3, McClanahan 3, Jones 3, Allred 2, Knapp 2, Zirbel 2

3-pt. goals – McClanahan

Fouled out – None.

Ren. Academy – Cook 20, Tatum 16, Thomas 11, Daniels 9, Harold 7, Stover 7, Combs 4, Raya 2, Turrentine 1

3-pt. goals – Cook 2, Daniels, Harold

Fouled out – None.