PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Warnick, Trabuco Hills Stop Estancia

After consecutive Pacific Coast League losses, Trabuco Hills Coach Rainer Wulf knew his team needed to do something fast to stay in the chase for the league title.

And the Mustangs got help Friday night from an unlikely hero in a must-win situation.

Forward Rob Warnick, a sophomore making his second start, scored 11 of his career-high 25 points in a key third quarter and Trabuco Hills defeated league-leader Estancia, 88-73, at Trabuco Hills.

The victory pulled the Mustangs (18-6, 5-3 in league) one game behind the first-place Eagles (13-10, 6-2) with two games remaining.

Trabuco Hills, ranked sixth in Orange County, plays at Laguna Hills and Costa Mesa to close the season; unranked Estancia has tough games at Century and at home against Laguna Beach.

“This was a must win,” Wulf said. “But I was just happy to recognize our team again. We had been undisciplined in our past two games (losses at Century and at home against Laguna Beach). In the past, we had been winning close games.

“We need to win our last two games, and I hope someone will give us a present against Estancia. My main concern is that we are ready to play come the playoffs. Tonight was a big, big step.”

Trabuco Hills pulled away from a 34-34 halftime score, outscoring Estancia, 25-16, in the third quarter. The Mustangs held a 23-5 rebounding advantage in the second half, with Warnick pulling down 10 in the game, Derrek Uhl had eight and Pat Barnes seven.

“We can be a very good rebounding team when we decide to go out and rebound,” Wulf said. “We’ve been lacking discipline lately in areas like that, and I take all the fault for it. I let us slip.”

Warnick had four rebounds in the third quarter and also made five of six shots. He was 10 of 14 from the field in the game.

“Rob is a sleeping giant,” Wulf said. “Before, you would see 50% of what you could get out of him. Tonight, you saw 100%.”

Jim Faulkner, Estancia’s leading scorer, tied the game, 40-40, on a thunderous slam dunk off a lob pass from Clay Frenz. But he went to the bench with his fourth foul on the next play, with 5 minutes 6 seconds left in the third quarter.

By the time Faulkner returned--1:55 left in the quarter--Trabuco Hills had opened up a 52-44 lead. Estancia never came closer than seven the rest of the way.

“There’s no doubt that was a key (stretch) because Faulkner is such a good player,” Wulf said. “When he went out, we turned up the juice defensively.”

The Mustangs forced seven of Estancia’s 13 turnovers in the third quarter, and held a decisive edge at the free-throw line in the second half. Trabuco Hills made 16 of 22 free-throw attempts in the second half; Estancia was six of 11.

Warnick’s 25 points, 20 more than his season average, led six Trabuco Hills players in double figures. Brett Poulos scored 15, Uhl 12, Matt Moore 11, and Barnes and Ryan Karnoff 10 each.

Estancia’s Zach Richardson came off the bench for 21 points, hitting four three-pointers and three free throws in the fourth quarter. Faulkner and Matt Chapman scored 16 points apiece for Estancia.

In other league games:

Laguna Beach 59, Century 53--Taylor Butcher had 26 points and Ian McDonald added 15 points for Laguna Beach (12-9, 4-4), which took over sole possession of third place.

Costa Mesa 58, Laguna Hills 48--Andrew Banua had 17 points to lead Costa Mesa (11-9, 3-5).