Freshman helps Aliso Niguel boys basketball hold off Beckman’s late charge ...Middle East

IRVINE – If ever two boys basketball teams seemed to be made for each other – and the fans who watch them – it’s Aliso Niguel and Beckman.

For the second time this season, the Sea View League opponents provided a nail-biter. And for the second time, Aliso was the winner — but just barely.

Getting five points in the final 128 seconds from a freshman backup who was thrust into a starting role, Aliso Niguel maintained a chokehold on the league title race with a 61-60 victory at Beckman on Monday.

The Wolverines improved to 18-8 overall, 6-0 in league. Beckman dropped to 14-12 overall, 3-3 in league.

Miles Iribarne, who replaced point guard Collin Tjin for the second game in a row because of an illness, had 13 points and seven assists for the Wolverines.

Iribarne came through down the stretch as Beckman came back from a 14-point deficit with about three minutes left in the third quarter.

Beckman took the lead in the fourth behind the exquisite play of Qusai Azem, who scored 22 of his game-high 26 in the second half and 13 in the fourth.

Bronson Mejia’s three-point play tied the score at 51-51, and Anton Le followed with a 3-pointer for the Patriots’ first lead since making the opening basket. But the Patriots made only two field goals after that.

“I think we waited a little bit long for our teamwork to kick in,” Beckman coach Rusty Van Cleave said. “I thought we were fantastic on both sides of the ball in the second half, really shared the ball, found a lot of easy shots. When we were playing one-on-one at times it was hard because they’ve got good players and big bodies out there. But that was some of the best basketball we’ve played all year in the second half.”

With his team down 54-51, Aliso Niguel’s Jay Keys’ made it 54-53 with a drive to the basket, and then Azem’s 3-pointer made it 56-54 with 2:08 remaining.

Aliso had taken a four-point lead because of a Will Fincher basket underneath off a nice assist from Jaydin Mysin with 1:16 left and Mysin’s two free throws with 30 ticks to go.

Eight seconds later, Iribarne made the first of two free throws to complete the Wolverines’ scoring.

After Iribarne’s free throw, Beckman couldn’t knock down a 3, and Aliso allowed an easy bucket with five seconds left, then didn’t worry about putting the ball in play again.

Aliso Niguel coach Keith Barnett praised the effort of his freshman point guard, Iribarne.

“You can’t speed him up,” he said. “He’s only been with us seven or eight games, but he’s such a talented player. For him to step back and make that 3 – and then me made one of those two free throws. I trust him.”

Said the freshman of the hour: “It was nerve-racking, but man, I feel like I’m built for these. It was fun. It was a big moment and I needed to step up for my team and help us get a big win.”

Keys led Aliso with 17 points, and Mysin had 12, including 10 in the first half as the Wolverines took a 30-23 lead into halftime.

Mejia added 11 points for the Patriots.

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