Ocean View boys' basketball routs Central City Value in Brendan Holmes' head coaching debut

Ocean View's Slater Miller scores against Central City Value's Pedro Martinez, right, and Levy Rivera during the first half of a Jim Harris Classic first-round game on Tuesday in Huntington Beach.

By Matt SzaboStaff Writer

Nov. 19, 2019 10:27 PM PT

Brendan Holmes followed in his father’s footsteps this year when he became the head boys’ basketball coach at Ocean View High.

His father’s footsteps Tuesday night went out of the Seahawks gym after the first quarter of Ocean View’s season opener against Los Angeles Central City Value in the Jim Harris Classic.

Roger Holmes coached with the late Jim Harris in the 1980s at the school, and as the co-coach with Tim Walsh for four years before Jimmy Harris took over last year. Harris resigned this year to spend more time with his family, leaving the varsity job to Brendan Holmes, who was an assistant coach last year.

Roger, now the athletic director at Fountain Valley High, said he left Tuesday night to check out the Barons girls’ basketball game. Ocean View was already up big and well on its way to a victory in his son’s debut.

Junior forward Slater Miller had 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Seahawks routed Central City Value 82-30 to advance to the tournament quarterfinals. Ocean View will host Lakewood on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Ocean View, which went undefeated in the Golden West League last year and advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoffs, is young this year. All-league players like forward Vincent Caiazzo and guards Carson Nguyen and Kurtis Vu all graduated. The 6-foot-4 Miller is the returner who got the most substantial amount of varsity time last year, while 6-5 sophomore center Chico Lopez, senior forward Michael Caruso and junior guard Luke Washington are the other three returners.

Ocean View's Chico Lopez attempts a dunk as he draws a foul on Central City Value's Pedro Martinez during the first half of a Jim Harris Classic first-round game on Tuesday.

“I’ve known a lot of these guys for a while now, so it’s been cool to see them grow,” said Brendan Holmes, 28, who is the all-time leading scorer for the Marina boys’ basketball program with 2,015 points. “A lot of them played on my freshman team when I was the freshman coach. I think it’s a group that’s exciting and learning a lot. A lot of the guys came from the JV level, so they’re getting used to the speed and the pace of the game, with a few of our leaders that came back. I’m really excited for this season.”

Michael Dechene scored 12 points for Ocean View, all on four three-pointers, and Washington and Cash Schneckenberger scored 10 points each. Seven different players made at least one three-pointer for the winners, who got in all 12 of their players in the first half. Ocean View took a 48-22 halftime lead.

“It was amazing,” Miller said. “All of the JV kids getting used to the varsity level was nice. Having everyone get the ball, touch the ball, it was great ... We’ve all been playing together since like seventh and eighth grade. It just feels like a brotherhood. We all work really well together.”

Miller showed variety in his game, hitting a pair of three-pointers.

“It’s a new role for him,” Holmes said. “Carson and Vincent from last year were kind of our go-to players whenever we needed it. Now when we need something, he’s someone that we look to a lot. I think his biggest growth from the summer to the fall to now is kind of learning to be that guy that we look to when we need something.”

The team play will still be emphasized, as it has for decades at the school. Jimmy Harris said that there has always been either a Harris or a Holmes on the bench at Ocean View, and that streak will live on.

“It’s been a family affair for a long time,” said Holmes, who also coached with his father at Fountain Valley High when Roger was the head coach there. “It’s been really cool.”