Ocean View rolls to Golden West title

Ocean View needed somebody to make a play. It was clinging to a seven-point lead against Loara, the momentum was changing and the home crowd was on the verge of exploding.

The Seahawks' somebody turned out to be one of their youngest players.

Sophomore Kendall Small drove through the Saxons defense to score and he was fouled with 5:14 remaining. He finished the 3-point play and Ocean View had the final push it needed to beat Loara, 73-57, on Friday night at Loara High.

With the victory, Ocean View (20-6, 10-0) won the Golden West League title, while Loara (20-7, 8-2) settled for second.

"It's a very special achievement," Seahawks coach Tim Walsh said. "We were excited about this opportunity we had tonight."

Small paced his team with 23 points. Dillon Reise enjoyed a superb all-around performance with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

With Tyler Burch battling foul trouble in the first half, including a technical foul, the Seahawks held a one-point lead at intermission. When Burch returned in the second half, Ocean View began to separate itself.

Burch scored 10 of his 12 points in the third quarter, but an altercation with Loara's Joe Stirrat late in the period led to a double technical, Burch's second, which led to his ejection.

Isaiah Merrill topped Loara in scoring and rebounding with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and David Ruiz added five rebounds and six points.

In another Golden West League game:

Westminster 60, Segerstrom 34: Myron Aiava scored 23 points and Paul Pena added 16 to lead the Lions (12-13, 6-4). Segerstrom (7-18, 2-8) was led by Dante Landrum (11 points) and Damion Salgado (11 points.

Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com