COSTA MESA – The 3-point field goal is not only a way of life, but a means of survival for the Sunny Hills basketball team.
The Lancers opened the game with six 3-pointers in the first quarter to get them off and running in their opening-round game of the game of the Tustin/Estancia Coast Classic at Estancia High.
“We’re Sunny Hills, we’re going to shoot threes,” senior guard Tim Ahn said.
Sunny Hills finished with 11 3-point field goals to lead the way to a 76-56 victory over Estancia. The Lancers (7-3) will face Iolani of Hawaii in the second round today at Estancia at 5:30 p.m.
Estancia (5-5) will face LACES in a consolation game at 2:30 p.m.
“We got off to a slow start (this season),” Ahn said. “Coach said we were on our own agenda. Now we’re on a four-game winning streak, so everything is going better. We play more as a team now.”
Ahn had 17 points. Sean Tasse led the Lancers with 18 points, and Dezmond Rowen scored 16. Tasse led the way with five 3-point field goals.
“We’re passing and moving the ball better and we’re in it to win,” Ahn said. “In transition, I want to look for the shooters and during sets I want to pass the ball around. If there is a shot open for me, then I will take it.”
The Lancers led 30-16 in the second period, but the Eagles scored eight consecutive points to get back into the game.
However, Sunny Hills closed the half on a 14-3 run to take a 44-27 lead into halftime.
The Lancers opened the second making their first five field goals and eventually stretched their lead to 63-30 with 3:23 left in the third period.
“It was a game we needed to win to stay on the right side of the bracket,” Sunny Hills coach John Wooldridge said. “So you can play three more good games. Win or lose, we need to play good games to get ourselves ready (for Freeway League).”
“I thought Sean Tasse gave us some great minutes and he can do what he did … we’ve been waiting for it all year and hopefully this will propel him going into January.”
Keana McReynolds led Estancia with 20 points. Gunnar Johnston and Evan Pettingill had 16 and 11, respectively.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
