May 14, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

PHOTOS: Third-seeded Marina upset by King/Drew in CIF So Cal Regional opener

Luke Pratali brings the ball up for Marina Tuesday. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Marina High School’s boys basketball team, coming off the school’s first CIF championship, lost to King / Drew 55-46 in the opening round of the CIF Southern California Division II Regionals Tuesday night at Marina.

Marina won the CIF 2A title Saturday, defeating Long Beach Poly and Coach Nick Racklin’s Vikings were looking to make a run in the state tournament.

No. 14-seeded King/Drew avenged an in-season 15-point tournament loss in December against Marina and moves on to the second round Thursday at La Habra.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

No. 3 Marina led early and was up 11-10 after the first quarter. The King / Drew Eagles went on a 7-0 run to lead 17-11 and never looked back. The Vikings cut the lead to one point in the third quarter and two points in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get over the hump.

Marina had 14 turnovers compared to nine for King Drew and missed several close shots.

Marina (26-8) was led by junior point guard Barak Simon with 19 points and five consecutive three-pointers. Junior guard Mark Yeager hit three 3-pointers for nine points. Junior forward Luke Pratali had a solid floor game with seven points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

King / Drew (20-11) was led by a trio of guards: junior Donald Thompson (20 points), sophomore Jayshawn Kibble (17 points and three three-pointers) and sophomore Josahn Webster (10 points).

—Courtesy Daryl Bogard, For OC Sports Zone