Two too many

Another attempt at a comeback victory by the Ocean View High boys’ basketball team in postseason play didn’t materialize for the Seahawks Tuesday.

Four days after scoring in the final seconds to stun Atascadero, Ocean View took on host Norco in the CIF-Southern Section Division IIA playoffs, the winner advancing to the Honda Center of Anaheim to play in Saturday’s division title game.

It will be Norco that is moving on, but just barely.

The Cougars survived a pair of three-point shot attempts by the Seahawks in the final 10 seconds of the second overtime, the last taken by junior guard Takeshi Clifford that hit the front of the rim, to hold on for a 71-68 semifinal victory at Roosevelt High in Corona.

Ocean View trailed by eight points with 40 seconds left in the second overtime but fought back to have a chance to win, or send the game into a third overtime.

“These kids never, never quit,” Ocean View co-head coach Jimmy Harris said. “I told them earlier in the season, ‘darn the skills, darn the wins, darn the losses, I just want to be inspired by you.’ Boy, was I ever tonight. These kids showed tremendous character.”

The back-and-forth game saw the fifth-seeded Seahawks take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter, where the ninth-seeded Cougars rallied to force overtime.

Clifford was Ocean View’s top scorer with 24 points. Junior guard Brandon Ishimoto scored 15 points and freshman guard Avery Johnson 14.

Golden West League champion Ocean View, which traditionally has deep runs in the postseason, was playing in the semifinal round for the first time since 2003 and was looking to advance to its first division final since falling to Artesia in 2000.

Norco will meet Mountain View League rival Centennial of Corona in Saturday’s final. Centennial, the No. 10 seed, finished second to Norco in the league standings.

Ocean View had reached the semifinal round by pulling out a dramatic, 60-59, last-second victory Friday over 13th-seed Atascadero on the Greyhounds’ home floor.

Ishimoto, despite Atascadero stacking three defenders at mid-court, weaved his way down the length of the court and dropped a pass to junior center Anthony Pancoast from the foul line. Pancoast hit a layup with three seconds to play to provided Ocean View with the winning points.

Pancoast finished with 18 points, Ishimoto 12 points and nine assists and Clifford canned five, three-point baskets en route to a team-high 21 points in addition to eight rebounds.

Ocean View was playing its first road game of the postseason after having defeated both Antelope Valley and Northview at home.

In boys’ CIF soccer

Huntington Beach’s march toward a possible Division II title was halted Friday by second-seeded Palos Verdes. The visiting Sea Kings scored a second-half goal and withstood the Oilers down the stretch to post a 1-0 victory in a quarterfinal match.

Huntington, the No. 3 team out of the Sea View League, had won its previous two playoff games — both on the road — against Mt. Baldy League champion Montclair (2-1) and Ivy League runner-up Arlington (1-0).

Palos Verdes, champion of the Bay League, went on to defeat Saugus Tuesday in the semifinals and will take on Katella Saturday for the division title.

In girls’ CIF basketball

Huntington Beach, co-champion of the Sea View League, had its successful season ended on the road by Valencia, which held on for a 48-44 quarterfinal victory in Valencia.

Sophomore forward Noelani Viloria scored 17 points and junior center Jasmine Erving 16 points for the 11th-seeded Oilers who finished the year 21-6.

Valencia, Foothill League No. 2 and division’s No. 7 seed, was eliminated by second-seeded Redondo Union in Saturday’s quarterfinals and had its year end at 20-8.

Edison also was eliminated in postseason play as 10th-seeded Monrovia scored a 39-36 win over the host Chargers in a second-round Division IIAA game.

Edison, the Sunset League runner-up, ended its year 18-9.