El Camino Rebounds for 60-48 Win at Oceanside to Tie for First Place

OCEANSIDE — Hot shooting had carried Oceanside during a five-game winning streak, but rebounding was the difference Friday night when crosstown rival El Camino ended that streak with a 60-48 victory and moved into a first-place tie in the Avocado League.

Not only did Oceanside (9-6, 5-1) struggle from the floor but, more important, the Pirates made just 7 of 20 free throws.

The difference was that visiting El Camino (12-4, 5-1) dominated the boards by a 43-21 margin, getting 17 rebounds along with 20 points from Lee Cobb. Scott Oatsvall added 18 points.

Alvin McGee led Oceanside with 13 points.

The other key was Oceanside’s failure to convert its chances from the line. El Camino opened a 20-10 lead early in the second quarter but Oceanside, the defending 2-A champion, remained close. The Pirates trailed, 27-22, at halftime despite making only 5 of 14 foul shots.

Oceanside tied the game, 37-37, on a layin by McGee with 7:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, but El Camino went on a 10-2 run to put the game away. El Camino’s biggest lead of the night was the final margin.

“We had a lot of chances to put them away, but we kept making mistakes,” El Camino Coach Ray Johnson said. “They couldn’t shoot, and we couldn’t execute.”