Third quarter costly for Eagles

Tony Altobelli

IRVINE - It was a first half to remember and a fourth quarter to be

satisfied with for the Estancia High boys basketball team Friday night

against Tustin.

The third quarter, on the other hand ...

A 20-9 run by the Tillers in that fateful third quarter proved to be

the difference in the Eagles’ 50-45 consolation loss at the Irvine World

News Classic, played at Woodbridge High.

“Nobody ever asks you if you won the first half,” Estancia Coach Chris

Sorce said. “They ask you if you won the ball game. We’re trying to tell

the kids it takes four solid quarters to be successful, but we’re just

not putting it all together. We’ll get there, though.”

It was the fifth loss in a row for the Eagles (2-5), who led by eight

after the first half, only to see it slip away.

“We’re doing a lot of positive things out there,” Sorce said. “A lot

of people contributed tonight, which is very encouraging. It’s just part

of the growing process.”

Junior Micah Young led the Eagles with 14 points, while senior Eliasar

Maldonado chipped in with 11.

Despite the tough third quarter, Estancia still hung tough and

actually had an opportunity to tie the game with eight seconds left, but

Maldonado’s three-point attempt rattled in and out.

“We ran our offense the way we wanted to on that final play, but the

shot didn’t fall for us,” Sorce said. “I have a ton of confidence in

Eliasar and I know next time we’re in that situation, he’ll hit the shot

for us.”

Maldonado and Young got the Eagles’ offense going early, while the

defense was at the top of their game, according to Sorce.

“We stepped up in Tustin’s passing lanes and we did a great job of

communicating with one another,” Sorce said.

A 14-7 second-quarter run gave Estancia its biggest lead of the game

at 25-14, but a three-pointer at the buzzer by Chris Chester gave the

Tillers momentum heading into the second half.

Tustin used a 10-2 third-quarter run to grab the lead for good.

The Eagles will play Washington’s Bellvue High at the Coast Christmas

Classic on Wednesday.

IRVINE WORLD NEWS CLASSIC

Consolation

Tustin 50, Estancia 45

Estancia 11 14 9 11 - 45

Tustin 7 10 20 13 - 50

Estancia - Young 14, Maldonado 11, K. Valbuena 9, Rodriguez 4, Prado

3, Phan 2, Cachola 2, Romero 0, D. Valbuena 0.

3 pt. goals - Maldonado 1, Prado 1.

Fouled out - None.

Tustin - Barrett 15, Hall 12, Chester 11, Nix 9, Westrom 3.

3 pt. goals - Hall 1, Chester 1.

Fouled out - None.