Harris reaches milestone

During the holiday break, the Ocean View High boys’ basketball program reached another major milestone.

When the Seahawks edged an 11-3 Mission Viejo team, 40-39, Saturday at Capistrano Valley High, the school earned its 600th victory. Jim Harris, who coaches the team with his son, Jimmy Harris, a former All-CIF player for the Sehawks, has been court side for each one of those victories.

In his 31 years guiding the program, Harris’ teams have combined to amass a 600-248 all-time record.

When asked to reflect on the feat, Jim Harris thought back through the years.

“I guess my best immediate thought is how many wonderful players, hard-working players, have been a part of this program — coaches, too,” he said. “They are good kids who work really hard. I know that there are a lot of teams who have players who work hard, but it’s something deeper than that here. It’s the passion that that these kids have to keep the tradition of the program alive and it’s that passion that keeps up coaching. Winning has been a result of that. It’s been a 30-plus love affair here.”

In 31 years, Ocean View has averaged just under 20 victories a season. This year’s Seahawks stand at 9-6 overall, thanks to that one-point victory Saturday over Mission Viejo as they head into their Golden West League opener Friday against visiting Segerstrom.

“Our December has been much tougher than most people are aware,” said Harris, whose squad has played many of the state’s top-rated teams, according to MaxPreps. The Seahawks have gone up against No. 6 Leuzinger, No. 7 Etiwanda, No. 8 Los Alamitos, No. 11 Long Beach Poly, No. 16 Diamond Ranch and No. 20 Pacific Hills, with wins coming over Long Beach Poly and Pacific Hills. They still have a to face a talented Huntington Beach team that has won 13 of its first 15 games this year and an ML King team that currently is ranked fifth in the state.

“It’s been a tough schedule, but it helps prepare us for league,” said Harris, whose program has won 11 of the last 12 Golden West League titles.