Boys’ Basketball: Costa Mesa denied
The games only get tougher and more important as the season goes on.
It’s getting late, and the pressure is now squarely on the shoulders of Costa Mesa High’s boys’ basketball team after the Mustangs dropped their home finale.
Ramon Lopez-Felix had 17 points and five steals for Godinez, which clinched its second Orange Coast League title in three years with a 54-46 victory over the host Mustangs on Friday night.
By the looks of things, Godinez (23-3, 8-0 in league) expected to be in this position. The Grizzlies did not have a big celebration on the court in acknowledgement of the league championship.
That sort of confidence comes from a track record of success, which the Grizzlies have a claim to. Godinez has won 12 straight league games dating back to a Feb. 3 win over Saddleback last season.
“After we won this league championship game, I feel like our confidence is even higher,” Lopez-Felix said. “If we won this, it was a guaranteed championship. We just wanted it all for ourselves.”
He added that the streak will give an added boost to his team’s morale heading into CIF.
Costa Mesa (9-16, 5-3) will have to scrap for its opportunity to return to the playoffs. The Mustangs have road games against Laguna Beach (16-10, 5-3) and Estancia (10-12, 3-5) next week.
Those are the two teams competing with the Mustangs for the final two playoff berths in the Orange Coast League.
In the first meeting between Godinez and Costa Mesa, the Grizzlies pulled out a close one, 57-55, on Jan. 20. The Mustangs could have saved themselves the drama if they had flipped the script.
Instead, foul trouble and a third-quarter run were the difference in the game.
Center Roman Ayala picked up his third foul before halftime, and forward Jack Perez picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth.
“We didn’t have enough rebounders,” Mustangs guard Nico Dasca said. “They had 16 offensive rebounds. We really struggled. When our big guys got in foul trouble, we didn’t have enough size in the game.”
Dasca had a game-high 20 points for Costa Mesa. The sophomore added that he hopes watching a team clinch a league title on their home floor will motivate the Mustangs for their final playoff push.
Costa Mesa led, 19-18, at halftime.
The offenses got going out of the break, fueled largely by fast-break opportunities.
Bryan Rivera made his presence felt on the defensive end for Godinez, notching three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in the third quarter. His activity helped the Grizzlies go on an 11-0 run in 2:24 to take a 35-25 lead with 2:09 left in the third.
“Bryan is having a tremedous season,” Grizzlies Coach Gregory Coombs said. “He has come a long way. He’s had some huge games, both defensively and scoring-wise. It’s not a huge surprise.”
Rivera finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. Eddie Bravo added 10 points and eight rebounds.
For Costa Mesa, the secondary scoring was scarce. Perez had eight points. Osman Hefner had six points, all of which came in the fourth quarter.
Orange Coast League
Godinez 54, Costa Mesa 46
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Godinez – 10 - 8 - 19 - 17 – 54
Costa Mesa – 10 - 9 - 13 - 14 – 46
God – Lopez-Felix 17, Rivera 12, Bravo 10, Bueno 8, Alcocer 5, McMorris 2.
3-pt. goals – Alcocer 1, Lopez-Felix 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
CM – Dasca 20, Perez 8, Hefner 6, Villalpando 5, Ayala 4, Chavez 3.
3-pt. goals – Dasca 2, Hefner 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
