Boys basketball: Eagles chop down Timberwolves

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Three down, one to go.

That’s the mentality of the Estancia High boys basketball game,

following Tuesday night’s thrilling 54-49 Pacific Coast League win over

visiting Northwood.

“We’ve been saying since the beginning of last week that our playoffs

are underway,� Estancia Coach Rich Sorce said. “Thursday night’s game

against University will be like a championship game for us.�

Eliasar Maldonado led the Eagles (10-14, 5-4 in league) with 18

points, while Micah Young and Kenny Valbuena each added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“Our kids are playing so hard right now,� Sorce said. “We’re playing

on pure Adrenalin. We’re battling some nagging injuries and the flu bug,

but I don’t think it’ll be too hard to get them up for Uni on Thursday.�

The key to the Eagles’ success came in the first four minutes and the

final four minutes. Estancia started the game with a 12-4 run and ended

the first quarter with a 19-10 advantage.

The Eagles’ traditional “one bad quarter� took place in the second

when the Timberwolves (18-7, 5-4) outscored Estancia, 16-5, and led by two at the half.

“I told the guys in the locker room, ‘Look, you had your one bad

quarter and you’re still only down by two points,’ � Sorce said. “We just

had to execute on offense and pick up our defensive intensity.�

Timberwolves’ standout shooter Drew Terry led the way with 22 points,

but was held to only seven second-half points.

Kenny Valbuena helped the Eagles’ offense in the third quarter. The

senior scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds, but the Eagles

trailed, 42-37, after three.

It was still a five-point Timberwolves’ advantage with four minutes

remaining when the Eagles’ defense put a vice grip on Northwood’s

offensive production.

Estancia, on the other hand, went on a 13-3 run in the final four

minutes to pull out the win, hitting 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.

The win sets up a do-or-die road battle with the Trojans Thursday

night at 7:30. The Eagles stunned Uni, 73-65, on Jan. 24. “If we execute

the way we’re capable of, things will fall into place,� Sorce said.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Estancia 54, Northwood 49

Score by Quarters

Northwood 10 16 16 7 - 49 Estancia 19 5 13 17 - 54

Northwood - Terry 22, Bailey 10, Selway 8, Gray 5, Reggero 2, Howard

2.

3-pt. goals - Terry 4.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Estancia - Maldonado 18, Young 12, K. Valbuena 12, D. Valbuena 7,

Cachola 4, Rodriguez 1, Prado 0.

3-pt. goals - Maldonado 2.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.