3-AA BOYS : Haas Regains Form, Leads Estancia to Victory

NEWPORT BEACH — Mike Haas can tell you all about a shooting slump. It wasn’t too long ago that he went three consecutive games without scoring a point for Estancia High School and was ultimately benched.

Haas’ confidence was shattered and his shooting touch disappeared. So Haas did what any shooter does in the midst of a slump, he went back to the gym after basketball practice and tried to regain his form.

“I went through some emotion problems inside, but I didn’t let it bother me,” Haas said. “Sooner or later, I was going to be back in the starting lineup.”

Tuesday night, Haas showed that he has come all the way back, making five three-point baskets and scoring 22 points in Estancia’s 68-57 victory over Western in the 3-AA quarterfinal game at Corona del Mar High.

Thanks to Haas’ persistence, Estancia (18-9) advances to the semifinals on Friday night against Lompoc, which upset top-seeded Morningside, 83-80, Tuesday night.

“Mike Haas has been a mystery all year,” said Tim O’Brien, Estancia’s coach. “He had six or seven games early in which he scored 20 or more points and then he went three games with a goose. He was benched, but I give him all the credit for never giving up.”

Haas’ biggest three-pointer came with 2:50 remaining. Western had cut an 11-point deficit to 57-53 when guard Sam Sabbara stole a pass and scored on a layup. But Haas responded with his momentum-breaker and Paul McDaniels finished off Western with three free throws in the final 57 seconds.

Haas, who made six of eight field goals and missed only one three-pointer, credited his teammates’ patience for his big night.

“The shots were open,” Haas said. “My teammates made it easy for me. They got the ball to me when I was open all night.”

Estancia took control in a closely played game that was tied nine times through three quarters with a quick spurt to open the fourth quarter. Sophomore Matt Fuerbringer pushed Estancia ahead, 46-40, when he scored a layup off a pass from guard Agustin Heredia and then Haas hit a three-pointer for a 49-40 lead.

Western (20-6) didn’t appear motivated until Estancia went ahead by 11 points with 5:04 remaining. Sabbara & Co. used a full-court press that created turnovers, and eventually trimmed the deficit to four points.

But the three-minute spurt was the only time Western played well. Afterward, Greg Hoffman, Western coach, had no explanation for his team’s performance.

“It was a shame it had to end this way,” Hoffman said. “We couldn’t have played any worse. I can’t explain it.”

Servite 41, Centennial 39--Steve Marusich made two free throws with four seconds left at Dominguez High School. Servite (16-10) trailed Centennial (13-12) by four points at the start of the fourth quarter, but rallied to tie the score, 39-39, with 2 minutes 12 seconds remaining on a layup by Adam Anderson.

After a missed shot by Centennial, Servite gained possession and ran a delay offense, calling time out with one minute left and again with 20 seconds remaining. With four seconds left, Marusich was fouled as he attempted a layup.

After Marusich’s free throws, Centennial failed to get off a shot as time expired.