Nelson Helps Estancia Turn Back Aliso Niguel

Sam Nelson got a second chance at the free-throw line Wednesday night and it proved to be the difference.

Nelson, a 6-foot-5 junior forward, made two free throws with seven seconds remaining to give host Estancia a 72-69 victory over Aliso Niguel in a Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball game.

Nelson finished with a game-high 27 points. He made 12 of 14 free throws, but the two he missed were on a double-bonus attempt with 13 seconds left and the Eagles leading, 69-68. Aliso Niguel’s Nathan Hair grabbed the rebound, but Nelson came up with a steal on the ensuing fast break.

He was fouled and made both free throws for a 71-68 lead. Hair, who finished with 25 points, wanted to try a three-pointer when the Wolverines came down the floor, but he was alertly fouled by Estancia guard Selwyn Mansell. Hair made the first, missed the second on purpose and Estancia’s Evan Taboada got the rebound.

“The game is mysterious and sometimes you get a second chance,” Estancia Coach Rich Boyce said. “When Nelson got fouled I told him to make the most of it because it was his second chance and he did.”

Estancia (14-5, 3-0) moved into a first-place tie with University, which rallied to defeat Costa Mesa, 92-90. Aliso Niguel fell to 12-7, 2-1.

Estancia built a 42-31 lead in the second quarter when Nelson made two free throws.

But the Wolverines came roaring back. Consecutive three-pointers by Yousof Etemadi capped an 8-0 run to open the third quarter, cutting Estancia’s lead to three points.

Etemadi tied the score, 54-54, with a lay-in. Two free throws by Jeff Munsell gave Aliso Niguel its first lead, 57-56, with 7 minutes 18 seconds left to play.

The lead expanded to as many as four points, but a three-point basket by Mansell, two free throws by Ryan Simpson and a three-point play by Mansell gave Estancia a 68-64 lead.