Pirates come up empty

COSTA MESA — The Orange Coast College half of the box score featured more zeros than the average Scott Boras contract.

But the biggest shortage in the Pirates’ 96-70 nonconference men’s basketball home loss to Miramar Thursday was, OCC Coach Steve Spencer said, something the box score doesn’t specifically quantify.

“The discouraging thing was, the effort just wasn’t there from the start,” said Spencer, for whom 11 of the 15 players who logged minutes produced either no points, no rebounds or no assists. “There’s no excuse for that. We shouldn’t be coaching effort.”

Spencer said the Pirates (3-5) were selfish and inefficient on offense and even less effective at the defensive end.

“They didn’t want any part of anything that it takes to win basketball games, or just compete,” Spencer said. “For us, it always comes down to effort. If we play hard, we have a chance. If we don’t, we’ve got no chance to win. None. Zero.”

Spencer had singular praise for freshman reserve Stefan Thomassen, who shared team-high scoring honors with 13 points and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds in 17 minutes. Thomassen made five of nine field-goal tries to help bolster the Pirates’ 38.1% field-goal shooting (24 of 63).

OCC made 11 of 26 three-point tries (42.8%), but was a dismal 13 of 37 inside the arc (35.1%).

Freshman guard Chad Delaney, whom Spencer said has been the team’s most consistently solid player this season, was four of four from the field, including two three-pointers, and converted all three of his free throws to finish with 13 points in 20 minutes. He also added four rebounds.

Brian Helmuth, a sophomore forward, had 12 points in 16 minutes for the hosts, who had 15 turnovers to the Jets’ six and were outrebounded, 43-34.

“The only guy who did anything tonight was Stefan,” Spencer said. “I was pleased with him. He didn’t play high school basketball, but has really made progress. His attitude has been great and the last couple games, he really brought energy to the court. He threw up some hooks tonight and he tried to get in there and get a couple of rebounds. He is very raw and he has a lot to learn, but he was good tonight.”

Spencer said his other 14 players share with Thomassen the need to learn.

“We’re a young team and our kids have no idea how much different high school is than college,” said Spencer, who noted he would not tear into his team in his postgame meeting.

“That’s beating a dead horse,” he said. “Back in the day, I would have practiced [before going home].”

OCC led, 3-1 and 6-5, before Miramar (5-3) went on an 8-0 run that produced a 13-6 advantage. OCC allowed another 10-0 run by the Jets, who finished the half on a 10-3 spurt to claim a 50-27 halftime advantage.

Miramar, which shot 53.4% from the field, was paced by 6-foot-6 sophomore Pat Eveland, who was nine of 10 from the field, including sinking both of his three-point tries, to produce 23 points. Eveland, the subject of interest from UC Irvine Coach Pat Douglass, who was in attendance, added six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“[Eveland] is a heck of a player,” Spencer said. “Give [the Jets] credit. They played hard, they played well, their coaching staff did a great job, and they just kicked our butts.”

Ian Larsson added 20 points for the winners, who had five players score in double figures.

OCC won’t have long to stew in Thursday’s juices, as it plays host to Pasadena today at 5 p.m.

Nonconference

Miramar 96, Orange Coast 70

Mir – Eveland 23, Larsson 20, S. Jones 14, Taylor 12, Allen 10, Fricke 6, Easterman 6, Ramirez 3, R. Jones 2.

3-pt. goals – Larsson 4, Eveland 2, Allen 2, Etheridge 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

OCC – Helmuth 12, Ford 7, Delaney 13, Williams 6, Whitmore 0, Thomassen 13, Hairston 6, Floyd 6, Bonner 4, Saldivar 3.

3-pt. goals – Helmuth 3, Delaney 2, Floyd 2, Hairston 2, Ford 1, Cook 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – Mir, 50-27.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].