Ocean View girls finish strong, advance in playoffs

HUNTINGTON BEACH - In their most important game of the year, the Ocean View girls basketball team played some of its best defense of the season.

Now only if the offense could catch up.

The Seahawks (18-9) defeated Covina, 22-18, in the first of the CIF-SS Division 3A playoffs at Ocean View High on Thursday night.

Using a man-to-man defense most of the game, the Seahawks forced the Colts (11-16) into difficult shots and turnovers.

That's exactly what Coach Kim Morris wanted.

"Our defense is truly our bread and butter. Point guard Mari Shigemasa is our senior leader and did a great job of stopping their best player. She doesn't always fill the box score, but she made timely shots tonight," said Morris.

Tied up entering the fourth quarter, the Seahawks took the lead for good on a Deja Duke jump shot in which the junior used a fancy ball fake into a step-back jumper. Shigemasa scored on a pull-up with 32 seconds left to clinch the win, as the Seahawk defense didn't allow any scoring in the first or fourth quarters.

The scoring was balanced for the Seahawks, who move on to play South Pasadena in the second round on Saturday. Shigemasa led the team with eight points and Alexxas Laun scored six. Duke chipped in five big points in the second half.

Coach Morris knows her team is ready for the second round.

"We always end up playing a seeded team it seems...South Pasadena is a big team and I feel like that match-up might actually be better for us."