Second-Half Surge Helps Loara Defeat Costa Mesa Again

Loara defeated Costa Mesa, 74-56, Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Orange Holiday Classic at Chapman, giving the Saxons two wins in two tries against the smaller, outmanned Mustangs.

“They’re just the better team,” Costa Mesa Coach Bob Serven said. “We played them twice and lost both times.”

In the opening game of its own tournament, Loara defeated Costa Mesa, 61-49. The Saxons ended up in the consolation bracket in that one, but now they’ve reached tonight’s championship semifinal at 6:50. Nate Von Achen had 18 points, six rebounds and five steals, Collin Brennan had 15 points and six steals, Bryson Hawkes 15 points and seven rebounds and Bryce Sheldon 11 points, including six in a pivotal third quarter for Loara (10-3).

Costa Mesa (7-5) was paced by Chad Vakili and reserve Nolan Clark, who each scored 14 points.

Von Achen scored eight points to help the Saxons move ahead in the first quarter, 18-10. But Costa Mesa got hot in the second quarter, making 10 of 13 from the field and going on a 20-5 run over the first 3 minutes 40 seconds of the quarter to lead at halftime, 39-33.

“Costa Mesa shot the lights out in the first half,” Loara Coach Ed Prange said. “They were making 20-foot shots and we had a hand in their face each time. If they were going to make those, there wasn’t much we could do about it.”

In the second half, Loara employed a tighter man-to-man defense that gave Costa Mesa fits.

The Saxons dominated the third quarter, using a 12-4 spurt to reclaim the lead, 45-44, with 3:55 remaining. They outscored the Mustangs, 22-7, in the third to take a 55-46 lead into the fourth quarter.

“As good as we played in the first half, we were that bad in the second,” Serven said.