Eagles can ring it, not Mustangs

COSTA MESA — If you mentioned “The Bell” back when Agustin Heredia attended Estancia High, you were most likely headed to a fast-food place where you could eat cheap tacos at after school.

The Battle for the Bell with Costa Mesa, not back then.

Heredia is the first to tell you things have changed with the boys’ basketball program since he graduated in 1990.

“Since I’ve come back here, this rivalry is kind of new to me,” Heredia said. “I never knew it was a rivalry to be honest with you.”

That’s because Estancia dominated its neighbor, Costa Mesa, when Heredia played.

In his second season as the head coach at Estancia, Heredia is still on the winning side.

Heredia guided the Eagles to a 57-49 Orange Coast League victory at home Wednesday night, helping them claim the Battle for the Bell trophy.

Estancia and Costa Mesa split the two-game series this season, but Heredia said the combined scores from both games determined who rung the bell and who ate free ribs afterward.

More important to Heredia was seeing Estancia (9-14, 2-3 in league) get even with Costa Mesa (7-14, 2-3).

The two programs are tied for the league’s third automatic playoff berth. With three league games left in the regular season, this one was crucial.

Before taking the court Wednesday, Heredia laid it out for his players.

“If we’re going to make the playoffs, we got to get this win,” Heredia said.

The key to the Eagles’ success was due to a fast start. They looked nothing like the team falling behind early and then losing 49-47 at Costa Mesa on Jan. 9.

Tim Neumann sparked Estancia, which led, 23-13, after the first quarter. Neumann scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the first eight minutes.

During the opening quarter, Neumann went five for five from the field, including converting three three-point plays, two from behind the arc and one at the free-throw line.

The one player Heredia pulled aside before the game was Neumann. Heredia asked one thing from his forward.

“We need a big game out of you,” Heredia told Neumann.

“He came through like a senior should. I’m really proud of him. He’s come a long ways.”

Neumann broke out his best game of the season at the right time. He not only scored, but pounded the boards, finishing with 11 rebounds, and he dove for loose balls, coming away with four steals.

Neumann went all out. He cramped up with 2 minutes, 43 seconds left in the game and Estancia in control with a 53-38 lead. Two people helped him off the court and to the bench.

The Mustangs hit Neumann with their best shots and he never retaliated.

One time, a couple of teammates had to restrain him when backup center Ryan Thompson fouled Neumann hard with 2:31 left before halftime.

“Our coaches kept us under control,” Neumann said. “We were smart. We just wanted to win.”

Winning gave Neumann his second straight opportunity to ring the trophy. This time it meant a lot more to Neumann than last season’s three-game sweep of Costa Mesa.

Sophomore Davon Joyner and senior Troy McClanahan contributed to Estancia demoralizing Costa Mesa twice after it cut the deficit to a two-possession game.

Senior guard Mikey Molina, who finished with a game-high 25 points and five three-pointers, brought the Mustangs back in the third quarter. He nailed a three-pointer with 65 seconds left in the quarter.

Forty-one seconds later, there was McClanahan pushing the lead back to eight points by burying his third three-pointer of the game.

After being held scoreless in the league opener against Costa Mesa, McClanahan finished with nine points.

When Costa Mesa cut the deficit to six at the beginning of the fourth, there was Joyner knocking down a three-pointer.

Joyner recorded seven of his 16 points in the fourth, allowing Neumann to rest and get rid of the cramp on the bench.

Neumann returned later and stayed on the court when the final buzzer sounded. He had one thing left to do. Ring the bell.

“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Neumann, whose coach is still getting used to celebrating this bell thing.

Orange Coast League

Estancia 57, Costa Mesa 49

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CM – Molina 25, Waldron 8, LeValley 5, Lefebvre 4, Astorino 4, Thompson 2, Dye 1.

3-pt. goals – Molina 5, LeValley 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

E – Neumann 18, Joyner 16, McClanahan 9, Thomas 7, Jones 7.

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

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

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