Newport Harbor edges Costa Mesa in Coach Mike’s Long Shot Challenge finale

Minutes before his former team, the Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball squad, was set to take on Newport Harbor, Mike Molina said he what he wanted from the finale of a special event.

“I just want it to be tough and competitive,” Molina said of the game. “That’s my hope.”

That it was, and exciting too, a great ending to the inaugural Coach Mike’s Long Shot Challenge, a basketball showcase that raised money for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

Costa Mesa nearly pulled off an upset, but Newport Harbor rallied from 17 points to edge the Mustangs, 62-60. Newport Harbor senior Charlie Stassel scored the final five points, including the game-winning layup with three seconds left.

The Mustangs came oh so close to connecting for the game-winner at the buzzer. Senior Calvin Ko, who scored 28 points for Mesa (10-10), threw a long inbounds pass to senior Mason Tufuga, who caught it just past half-court. Tufuga quickly shoveled the ball to senior Chris Calderon. Calderon’s shot, from near his bench, appeared as if it was headed into the net, but it just went past the rim and hit the backboard.

Ko and Calderon (eight points) were extra motivated for this game because they attended Newport Harbor as freshmen and transferred to Costa Mesa the following year.

“I’ve been waiting to play them for a long time,” said Ko who added one of the reasons he left Newport Harbor was because he wasn’t comfortable with the Sailors’ basketball program.

Costa Mesa Coach Phil Weber described Ko as, “a man on a mission,” especially the first half, when he scored 25 points and hit six three-pointers. Ko led the Mustangs to a 39-29 lead at halftime.

Tufuga scored 13 points. He hit a shot inside the key with 6:36 left in the first half that gave Costa Mesa its largest lead, 31-14.

But Newport Harbor (17-4) closed out the half with a 15-8 run. Stassel scored five points during that first-half finish.

The Sailors continued to chip away at the Mustangs’ lead in the third quarter and grabbed their first lead of the game with just three seconds left in the period. That’s when Brandon Phillips (nine points) scored on a layup to give Newport Harbor a 49-48 edge.

The teams battled in the fourth quarter. Nate Harding (eight points) made good on a layup for a 52-48 lead early in the fourth period. But Calderon connected for a three-pointer, and Tufuga nailed another three with 5:23 left to give the Mustangs a 54-52 lead.

Stassel drained two free throws to tie the game, 54-54, with just under four minutes remaining.

One minute later, Ko scored while being fouled and hit the free throw for a 57-54 lead. Later, freshman Nico Dasca knocked down a big three-pointer to give Costa Mesa a 60-54 lead with 2:07 left. The Mustangs then went scoreless.

Newport Harbor junior Collin Pipkin made a layup to put the Sailors within 60-57. And, Stassel was clutch with a three-pointer with 45 seconds left to make it 60-60 before he later drove in for the game-winning layup.

“It was a good feeling, a little rush of adrenaline,” Stassel said. “I used to play with a couple of those guys. It would’ve been tough to lose that one.”

Newport Harbor Coach Bob Torribio was certainly proud of his heroic senior guard.

“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games,” Torribio said of Stassel. “The team was struggling there a little bit and Charlie kept battling and kept battling. He gets a little upset when we sub him out but we like to keep him fresh. He battled and made some big shots at the right time.”

Torribio said his team was left frustrated at halftime because Costa Mesa began with such aggressive play and because of Ko’s hot start. But he said he gave credit to his players for rallying for the win.

Sophomore Zack Swies finished with three three-pointers for nine points to help Newport Harbor’s cause.

Dasca scored nine points for the Mustangs, who actually played a game earlier in the day. Costa Mesa beat Montebello Schurr, 63-43. Costa Mesa faced Schurr because Santiago was unable to show up for its game at 10:30 a.m.

Weber said it worked out for his team because it was a game short on its overall schedule. He admired his team’s effort against Newport Harbor, especially after playing earlier in the day.

“That was a huge game,” Weber said of the loss to Newport Harbor. “I know we lost but it’s a huge confidence booster. Knowing that we can play with Newport and Ocean View [a 69-65 loss Jan. 5], I really want to play Laguna [Beach] again. If we can play with tonight’s effort.”

The funds raised, through ticket sales, concessions and raffle tickets, went to charity. Molina’s friend Jeff Long, a Costa Mesa alumnus, Class of 2008, died of testicular cancer in 2012. Molina, also a Costa Mesa alum, battled the same disease five years ago and received great emotional help from Long. Molina said he wanted to start the event to remember his friend and raise money for cancer awareness and research. There were seven games at the Mustangs’ gym and six contests at Estancia.

“I think it’s huge for Mikey and the Long family to put on the show that we did,” Weber said of the great game against Newport Harbor. “I saw a lot of alumni in the crowd. It was great. It’s not the outcome we wanted, but It was fun. It was an exciting game.”

Costa Mesa returns to Orange Coast League play Wednesday at Godinez. Newport Harbor plays host to Marina on Friday in Sunset League action.

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Coach Mike’s Long Shot Challenge

Newport Harbor 62, Costa Mesa 60

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Newport 13 16 20 13 - 62

Mesa 26 13 10 12 - 60

NH – Stassel 22, Pipkin 13, Phillips 9, Swies 9, Harding 8, Laidlaw 1.

3-pt. goals – Swies 3, Stassel 2.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

CM – Ko 28, Tufuga 13, Dasca 9, Calderon 8, Salameh 2.

3-pt. goals – Ko 6, Dasca 2, Calderon 1, Tufuga 1.

Fouled out – Salameh.

Technicals – None.