Trabuco Hills runs by Ocean View in Lady Spartans Winter Shootout

When the Ocean View High girls’ basketball team finds itself facing its most critical point of the season, it may look back on the last week as a most valuable experience.

At times in the Villa Park Lady Spartans Winter Shootout, the Seahawks saw what their full lineup could do. Senior guard Erica Almiranez starred as a lead scorer who could also take the last shot with confidence.

Then, the flu bug bit both Almiranez and junior starting center Helen Reynolds, forcing the Seahawks to play a game without two key pieces of their team. Ocean View won that game, defeating Capistrano Valley to advance to the tournament championship.

The fore-mentioned starters did not start and played limited minutes in Saturday’s championship game. Nevertheless, the Seahawks were in most of the game against one of Orange County’s hottest teams to begin the season.

Junior guard Sierra Clark had 21 points and five steals, and Trabuco Hills defeated Ocean View 47-34 in Saturday’s final at Villa Park High.

“I don’t even understand the term ‘garbage time’ when it comes to a game,” Seahawks coach Kim Morris said. “I don’t coach garbage. I don’t teach them to be garbage, so my kids are all going to do what they’ve been taught to do in practice when they get out on the floor.

“These kinds of games push them into those situations earlier than they’re ready for, and that becomes invaluable if you choose to make it invaluable.

“I believe that any situation that is a negative can be turned into a positive if you choose to make it into a positive.”

Freshman forward Hosanna Walker had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Seahawks (6-5). Junior guard Michaela Fernando hit a pair of three-pointers with eight rebounds, and junior forward Jazmine Alarcon had a team-high 11 rebounds.

Trabuco Hills turned the game into a track meet in the first quarter. The Mustangs (12-2) had eight steals in the period, and they were looking to run in transition every chance they got.

Senior forward Abigail Estes ran the floor well. Clark and Estes combined for 13 points in the frame, as Trabuco Hills took a 16-6 lead into the second quarter.

Almiranez checked into the game at the three-minute mark of the first quarter. Reynolds did not appear until the second quarter.

Ocean View cut Trabuco Hills’ lead to 23-20 on a basket by junior Kasey Torres with 2:09 left in the first half.

The Mustangs held off the run and went on to win.

“We’ll have our dead spots where we will struggle offensively, but then our defense will pick us up,” Mustangs coach Art Carrido said. “Within games, we’re very resilient. We find ways to win, which is very exciting for a coach.”

Ocean View will compete in the Tri-City Christian Tournament next week.

Trabuco Hills 47, Ocean View 34

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Ocean View 6 – 14 – 5 – 9 — 34

Trabuco Hills 16 – 11 – 9 – 11 — 47

OV – Walker 12, Fernando 6, Almiranez 5, Yamasaki 4, Torres 3, Reynolds 2, Alarcon 2.

3-pt. goals – Fernando 2, Almiranez 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

TH – Clark 21, Estes 12, Carrido 6, Wilkerson 5, Arevalo 2, A. Thunhorst 1.

3-pt. goals – Clark 2, Carrido 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

andrew.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner