Estancia prevails in photo finish

Barry Faulkner

On Monday night, at least, a Pinto finished ahead of some Mustangs.

But, as was the case in the first boys basketball meeting this season

between crosstown and Golden West League rivals Estancia High and

Costa Mesa, victory was achieved by a nose.

Estancia junior Carlos Pinto, who was held to his second-worst

scoring output of the season (10 points) in a Jan. 16 loss at Costa Mesa, scored a game-high 22, including nine in the final 8:01, to

propel the Eagles to a 39-37 home triumph.

The win, before an overflow crowd, improved the Eagles to 13-12,

5-6 in league. It also helped them maintain the perpetual Bell trophy

that goes to the annual crosstown series winner, as well as the

celebratory rib dinner.

The victory also helped Estancia remain in contention with Santa

Ana and Costa Mesa for the league’s final two guaranteed CIF Southern

Section playoff berths, behind Ocean View and Orange.

The two teams split this season, but Estancia outscored the

Mustangs (15-9, 6-4 in league), ranked No. 10 in CIF Division III-A,

by one point in their two contests.

“It was a pretty even game between two pretty even teams that have

similar kids,” Mesa Coach Bob Serven said. “But they played better

than we did in the second half, when I thought we were very timid.

And Pinto, tonight, was the difference.”

Pinto, a three-year varsity veteran who came in averaging just

12.6 points in five previous games against the Mustangs, scored seven

of his team’s final 10 points, including a 10-foot jumper for what

amounted to the game-winner with 2:11 left.

Pinto had 11 of his team’s 15 first-half points, then watched his

teammates produce a 9-0 run early in the third period to turn a

five-point intermission deficit into a 24-22 advantage with 5:07 left

in the third quarter.

But Pinto virtually took over from there. After Costa Mesa

sophomore Scott Knox drained a three-pointer -- one of the Mustangs’

nine three balls -- with 2:40 left in the third quarter, Pinto hit a

baseline jumper to put the hosts up, 26-25.

After Marko Stankovic sank a 10-foot jumper, Pinto netted an

18-footer at the third-quarter buzzer for a 28-27 Eagle edge.

A Brian Molina three-pointer gave Mesa a 30-29 advantage with 6:17

left, but Pinto connected from deep in the left corner for the second

of his two three-pointers to provide Estancia a two-point cushion.

Molina, who had 10 points, five rebounds, five steals and four

assists, nailed a 15-footer to forge a 32-32 deadlock, but Pinto then

got some help from reserve Jose Viramontes.

Viramontes, whom his teammates call “Chicken,” courageously

knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing, on an assist from

Pinto, to put the Eagles ahead for good.

“Viramontes came up huge,” Estancia Coach Russell King said of the

6-foot senior’s only field-goal attempt of the night. “He was open,

we got him the ball and he didn’t hesitate. That’s what high school

basketball is all about.”

After the two teams traded turnovers, Pinto, who also had a

team-high eight rebounds, converted a pair of foul shots, then sank

the aforementioned clincher that made it 39-32.

Knox, who led the Mustangs with 11 points, sank two free throws

with 1:53 left, then a three ball from the left corner 30 seconds

later to pull the visitors within two.

The two teams exchanged missed shots on their next two

possessions, forcing the Mustangs to foul to send Estancia to the

line with 21 ticks remaining. The first one-and-one free throw came

up short, but Viramontes tapped the rebound out to teammate Mike

McDaniels. He passed to a teammate, who was then fouled.

The subsequent front-end foul shot bounced off the heel and Molina

rebounded with 17 seconds left. Mesa worked for an open three-point

attempt from the left corner, but the ball bounced off the backboard

out beyond the foul line.

The buzzer sounded before anyone could rebound, sparking an

emotional release from the Estancia rooters and players.

“It was a wonderful win,” said Pinto, who was 8 of 16 from the

field. “I’m just so happy right now.”

Mesa, which had just eight turnovers, made 9 of 22 from threedom

(40.9%), but just 4 of 17 inside the arc to finish 33.3% from the

field.

Estancia, which earned a 29-20 rebounding edge, reversing the

first meeting when Mesa outrebounded the Eagles, 38-31, made just 5

of 22 three-point tries (20.7%), but was 9 of 15 inside the arc.

*--*

Golden West League

Estancia 39, Costa Mesa 37

Score by Quarters

Costa Mesa 12 8 7 10 -- 37

Estancia 6 9 13 11 -- 39

Costa Mesa -- Waldron 8, Knox 11, Stankovic 2, Molina 10, Krikorian 6. 3-pt goals -- Knox 3,

Waldron 2, Krikorian 2, Molina 2. Fouled out

-- None. Technicals -- None. Estancia -- Pinto

22, McDaniels 5, Sankey 2, Escobedo 3, Markley

2, Viramontes 3, Kopp 2, Verrette 0. 3-pt.

goals -- Pinto 2, McDaniels 1, Escobedo 1,

Viramontes 1. Fouled out -- None. Technicals

-- None.

*--*