ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : Sunset League : Marina Puts Away Edison, 66-56

When Marina High School’s leading scorer, Mark Georgeson, scored only four points in the first half Friday night against Edison, he probably thought twice about having decided to play. Georgeson had the flu, and felt drowsy and sluggish.

He shook off the effects of the illness in the second half, however, and scored 18 points in the final two quarters to lead the Vikings to a 66-56 Sunset League victory over Edison at Marina.

“I didn’t know if I was going to play,” Georgeson said. “I slept all day and wasn’t sure until the beginning of the game.”

Marina outscored the Chargers, 14-4, without Georgeson in the first half. He left the game with 5:30 remaining after picking up his second foul and the score tied at 17.

In the second half, the Vikings needed everything they could get from their 6-foot 10-inch center.

Georgeson scored nine points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth, but the Vikings were never able to put Edison away until the game’s final minute.

Although the Vikings had a 10-point lead at halftime, Edison continued to whittle away in the third quarter, mainly behind the shooting of Scott DeStefano.

DeStefano’s three-point shot brought Edison to within two points, 39-37, with two minutes left in the quarter. Marina built the lead back up to seven points (50-43) in the fourth quarter when DeStefano made another jump shot.

At this point, Georgeson took control for Marina, scoring the Vikings’ next seven points, including two dunks.

The Vikings needed all they could get as Chip Hanlon made a free throw and DeStefano stole the ball and drove the length of the court to cut the lead to 57-52 with two minutes in the game.

Marina (6-0, 19-2) responded with a layup by David Yamate and Georgeson’s third dunk.

“They (Edison) are really a quick team and it’s difficult to take them out of the game,” said Steve Popovich, Marina coach. “This is about our fourth league game that Mark has pulled us through.”

Besides Georgeson, Marina used its other frontline players, notably forward Steve Guild, to dominate under the basket. Most of the Vikings’ second-half points came off second and third chances.

It was easy to why Edison (2-4, 10-10) stayed so close. Destefano had an excellent game, scoring 27 points, including three three-point shots.

Guild added 20 points for Marina.

Westminster 90, Huntington Beach 71--Center Chris Tower scored 20 points and teammate Tom Dever added 22 points as the Lions (4-2, 9-8) romped in Westminster. Guard Kevin Brazzel paced Huntington Beach (0-6, 4-17) with 21 points, including five three-point baskets.

Ocean View 60, Fountain Valley 51--Todd Pickard scored 19 points to lead the Seahawks at Fountain Valley. Tom Rochlen led the Barons with 15.