Mesa likes the view

Mustangs are alone in first place in the Golden West League after capturing a rare victory at Ocean View High on Tuesday night.HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Nobody on the Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball team had won at Ocean View High before. A few hot shooters and a tenacious defense did the trick.

Scott Knox and Larry Puente combined for 35 points and hit key shots as the Mustangs remained undefeated in the Golden West League with a 54-50 victory over Ocean View on Tuesday night.

The Mustangs (11-7, 5-0) may not have lit up the scoreboard like they have in the past, but they hit the big shots when they needed to.

“It feels good, we shot all right today,” said Knox, who had a game-high 18 points. “We’ve never shot well here before.”

Knox, who had a game-high three three pointers -- all in the first half, found himself at the free throw line with three seconds left in regulation time and the Mustangs up, 52-50. Missing one or both would have given the Seahawks hope. Knox drilled them both to ice it.

“I just kept calm,” Knox said. “I knew I’d sink them. I didn’t want to give them a chance to come back.”

The Mustangs led by as many as seven after Brian Molina’s three pointer early in the fourth quarter, and again after Tony Krikorian’s 10-foot jump shot moments later.

But after Molina committed his fourth foul and power forward Ryan French fouled out, the Seahawks crept back into the game. After a steal on the press, Ocean View’s Diego Delgado was fouled with 59 seconds left and hit both of his free throws to pull his team to within 49-48.

Soon after, Delgado, who led Ocean View (10-7, 3-1) with 14 points, missed a three-pointer, allowing Knox to put the game away by making his two free throws with three seconds left. The Mustangs hit 5 of 7 free throws in the fourth quarter.

“We hit the key shots when they went dry,” Costa Mesa Coach Ryan Schachter said.

The Mustangs climbed back from a 23-10 deficit early in the second quarter by going on a 21-1 run that spilled over into the third quarter. Knox started the run with a three-pointer and Krikorian (10 points) ended it with a three-pointer. Costa Mesa hit six three-pointers on the night.

Puente used his mobility and quickness to score inside and get open for short jump shots. He scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half and added six rebounds.

“They kept leaving me open and I kept knocking ‘em down,” Puente said.

Knox led Costa Mesa with seven rebounds. Costa Mesa outrebounded a bigger Ocean View squad, 22-20, and held 6-foot-7 forward Brad Sweezy to 10 points and six rebounds.

“We played hard,” Puente said. “We finally boxed out.”

Costa Mesa will try to make it six straight league wins and maintain their spot atop the Golden West League standings when they host Orange on Monday.

“Last year, we were right there going for first and we lost a game like this to our rival, Estancia,” Knox said. “It feels good to be in first place all by ourselves.”

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 54, Ocean View 50

Score by Quarters