3-AA BOYS : Estancia Has Easy Time With South Torrance

COSTA MESA —  South Torrance High School proved no match for Estancia in the first round of the Southern Section 3-AA playoffs as the Eagles cruised to a 98-57 victory Tuesday night.

“I don’t know if CIF wants 40-50 point blowouts in the first round of the playoffs,” Estancia Coach Tim O’Brien said, “(but) it turned out to be a JV game for the last quarter and a half.”

After leading by 20 points at halftime, Estancia’s Agustin Heredia capped a 10-2 run on a steal and a layup with 5:23 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 62-31.

One minute later, Dan Thompson provided the only highlight for the Spartans by drawing a foul while connecting on a three-point shot.

Thompson converted the four-point play, cutting the lead to 62-38. But Estancia responded by putting the game out of reach with a 10-0 run in the following two minutes.

Both coaches played reserves for the entire fourth quarter.

Twelve of 16 Eagles scored and five reached double figures. Heredia led Estancia with 20 points, Mike Haas had 19 points and Matt Fuerbringer added 15. Brian Dart scored all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter and Torey Hammond had 10 points.

“Maybe we needed this because we didn’t get any breathers all year,” O’Brien said. “But I think it will get a little tougher after this.”