Boys basketball: Mustangs win easy, 83-35

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High Coach Bob Serven probably could not

have drawn it up better for his boys basketball team. The Mustangs won

big and Serven’s goals were fulfilled as he evaluated all of his players

in Mesa’s 83-35 nonleague victory over visiting Saddleback Wednesday.

Serven said the game against Saddleback came at a perfect time because

the Mustangs (7-4) will have a one-week break before another game and

playing everyone would provide each player the chance to stay sharp.

“We were pretty solid (defensively),” Serven said of his Mustangs who

collected 12 steals. “Most of the time, we limited them to one shot. We

had our best focus on that.”

Players like seniors Justin Rowe (six points) and Freddy Rodriguez, as

well as sophomore Jordan Stroman, saw several minutes and displayed

plenty of athleticism.

Mesa starters David Conte, Chad Vakili and Danny Krikorian made the

most of their time as well. The trio combined for 56 points, as Vakili, a

senior, posted a game-high 23 points, hitting 5 of 9 three-point

attempts.

Conte added 19 points and a game-high seven steals, while Krikorian

chipped in 14 points.

The Mustangs scored their first points 2:15 into the game on a

three-pointer by Conte and outscored the Roadrunners, 20-2, the rest of

the quarter.

Mesa continued to dominate in the second quarter, using the

three-point shot and sound defense to expand the lead.

Vakili knocked down a three-pointer from NBA range with 4:12 left in

the half to give the Mustangs a 30-6 lead, and he later hit another three

with a minute left for a 40-9 spread.

Stroman, a 6-foot-3 forward, played throughout the second quarter and

much of the second half, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds.

“(Stroman) showed glimpses of his talent,” Serven said. “Freddy got to

see some minutes. And that’s important because he’s going to have to help

us down the road.”

The Mustangs outscored the Roadrunners in every quarter and 10 of

Mesa’s 12 players were in the scoring column.

NONLEAGUE

Costa Mesa 83, Saddleback 35

Saddleback 2 9 9 15 - 35

Costa Mesa 20 24 19 20 - 83

Saddleback - Campos 5, Sosa 3, Alonso 0, May 13, Gonzalez 14.

3-pt. goals - Sosa 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - Gonzalez.

Costa Mesa - Vakili 23, Clark 5, Jaime 2, Krikorian 14, Conte 19, Rowe

6, Stroman 6, Trinh 4, Millward 2, Rodriguez 2, Ball 0, Kohara 0.

3-pt. goals - Vakili 5, Krikorian 2, Conte 2, Clark 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.