Marina can’t maintain hot start in setback

The first round of the Sunset League boys’ basketball race came to a close Monday when Marina played host to Los Alamitos and had all the makings of a true showdown: the game pitted a Vikings team that had won nine straight against a Griffins team that was riding a 17-game win streak, with the winner taking over sole possession of first place in the standings.

Marina Coach Rogers Holmes said his squad would have to take care of the “little details” and play a solid game in order to beat the No. 5-ranked team in Division I-AA. The Vikings, ranked third in Division II-AA, were detail-oriented at the opening tip and came out hot, but the Griffins turned up the defensive heat over a key stretch that consumed the last-half of the second quarter until the midway point of the third quarter.

That lockdown triggered a huge swing in the game and allowed Los Al to gain control and eventually come away with a hard-fought 73-66 victory.

A 24-2 run was the difference in the game, as the Griffins turned a 31-22 deficit with 4:40 left in the first half into a 46-33 advantage with 3:42 to play in the third quarter.

“We just didn’t get any shots or any good look at the basket during that stretch,” Holmes said. “They are the best defensive team we’ve faced this year, by far. We missed free throws and turned the ball over too many times, which is really uncharacteristic of us. Their defense had something to do with that.

“They definitely are one of the top teams in southern California.”

Marina would score 12 points over the final 3:30 of the third quarter to narrow the deficit to 51-45. A free throw by Brendan Holmes started a 7-0 run that included consecutive three-point baskets by brothers J.J. James and Garrett James. The Vikings still trailed, 62-53, with 2:54 to play, when Brendan Holmes went to work.

He hit three treys from way downtown — two of which were close to 28-feet from the basket — over the next 1:25, to draw Marina within 64-62 with 1:29 to go.

On Los Al’s ensuing trip down the court, senior forward Nathan Berger hit an off-balanced jumper from the left-side of the key with 55 seconds left. That shot gave the Griffins a 66-62 lead.

The Vikings would get no closer.

The Griffins, who increased their win streak to 18 games to improve to 5-0 in league and 20-1 overall, latched on to Brendan Holmes at the outset of the game, hoping to slow the hot-shooting junior guard. The tactic worked, but only for a half. Holmes, who scored just two points in the first quarter en route to a season-low deuce at the half, went on to score 19 in the second half to end up with 21 points. He hit four three-pointers in the game.

By double-teaming Holmes, Los Al was exposed by the sure-shot of the steady Garrett James. The senior guard had a terrific first half, scoring 17 points, and went on to post a game-high 28 points that included seven three-point baskets.

Marina led, 21-15, at the end of the first quarter.

Marina saw its league record go to 4-1 and overall mark to 17-4 overall. The Vikings begin the second half of league play with a 7 p.m. home game Friday against Fountain Valley.

“This league is very tough and as I told the kids, we can win or lose every game,” Roger Holmes said. “We won close games at Fountain Valley and Esperanza and had a chance to win tonight against a Los Al team that is one of the top teams in southern California. The nice thing for us, is that we have three of our last five league games at home. All our focus will be on Friday’s game against Fountain Valley. It’s an important game for us.”