Ocean View takes care of Mission Viejo

ORANGE — Not so fast.

School is not out when the bell rings, or so that is the case for the Ocean View High girls’ basketball team.

Coach Kim Morris and her staff have been using the nonleague tournaments as their classroom.

So far, high marks can be given to the Seahawks, at least in how they have finished games.

Jackie Moss had 16 points, nine rebounds, and eight steals to lead Ocean View past Mission Viejo, 52-30, Monday in its first game of the Lady Spartans Winter Shootout at Villa Park High.

The Seahawks had four players reach double figures in scoring. Helen Reynolds posted 11 points and seven rebounds. Erica Almiranez and Kelsie Newman put in 10 points each.

“When your teammates are making shots, it makes it a lot easier,” Moss said. “It [sets up] our defense, which is what we started to do in the second half.”

Ocean View improved to 7-1 overall. Lately, strong second halves have been responsible for the continuation of the team’s winning ways.

Over the weekend, the Seahawks rallied from 18 points down to beat El Toro, 40-38, in an O.C. North/South Challenge game at Mission Viejo High.

On Monday, Ocean View’s lead was just 23-21 over the Diablos (5-4) at halftime.

The Seahawks’ defense took charge in the second half, taking away Mission Viejo’s top scoring option in Angela Arbe.

“She’s very left-handed, so we were trying to overplay her left hand,” Morris said. “We just didn’t do it until the third quarter.”

“That’s twice now, two games in a row, so we’re not quite learning from history.”

Arbe, a junior guard, was the only Diablo to score in double figures. She had 16 points, but only two of those came after halftime.

Defensive performance is how Morris wants her team to be monitoring its success.

“Hopefully, they’re figuring this out in these tournaments right now,” she said. “If we can define our success by how well we defend, then our offense will come along with it, no problem.”

The three-pointer has been a major ally of the Seahawks in the early going. They made eight shots from behind the arc against Mission Viejo.

Newman’s contributions came at a key time for her team. Operating in a sixth-man role, the senior forward had eight of her 10 points in the tightly contested first half.

Moss said that the comeback victory over El Toro came with multiple benefits.

“It boosted our confidence,” she said. “Most importantly, I think that it increased our focus. We need to focus more because close games like that will not always happen.”

Newman echoed her teammate’s sentiments, adding that the need for heightened focus has been accentuated by the fact that her team is no longer playing in the comforts of home.

Five of the Seahawks’ first six games were played at home with Ocean View hosting the Hawk Holiday Classic.

“I think that focus is something that we’ve been working on, especially as the games have been getting harder for us against better competition,” Newman concluded.

Ocean View will play Cerritos Valley Christian and La Mirada to complete its pool play in the tournament.

Also in the Lady Spartans Winter Shootout

San Juan Hills 50, Newport Harbor 31: Angelina Alvarez had 13 points to lead Newport Harbor, but it wasn’t enough as the Stallions (6-5) pulled away in the second half.

The Sailors trailed, 22-18, at halftime.

Pacifica extended its lead to 10 by winning the third quarter, 11-5. Newport Harbor couldn’t cut into the deficit in the final frame.

Hannah Hiromoto and Taylor Howard had 10 rebounds apiece for the Sailors (5-5).

Lady Spartans Winter Shootout

Ocean View 52, Mission Viejo 30

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Ocean View – 15 - 8 - 15 - 14 – 52

Mission Viejo – 8 - 13 - 4 - 5 – 30

OV – Moss 16, Reynolds 11, Almiranez 10, Newman 10, Armstrong 3, Solis 2.

3-pt. goals – Moss 4, Almiranez 2, Newman 1, Armstrong 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

MV – Arbe 16, Vasquez 5, Lister 4, Williams 3, Arlow 2.

3-pt. goals – Arbe 3, Vasquez 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – Yates (Coach).