HUNTINGTON BEACH — At the completion of the regular-season schedule, three Surf League teams – Edison, Fountain Valley and Newport Harbor – were in a three-way tie for second place.
The three teams took the court at Marina High School on Friday to determine which of them would get the second-place spot and earn the automatic playoff berth that comes with it.
That team was Edison, which defeated Fountain Valley 68-53 to lock up second place and know that it’s headed for the CIF-SS Division1 playoffs.
Derek Johnson led the Chargers (21-8, 2-4) with 24 points, including three 3-pointers, and Dane Johnson finished with 15 points, all coming in the paint.
“Derek controlled the game,” Edison coach Rich Boyce said. “He did an amazing job and Dane controlled the game down low.”
The Barons (17-13, 2-4) finish third in league and will be considered for an at-large playoff berth in Division 2AA, where they are ranked No. 10.
Fountain Valley defeated Newport Harbor 63-59 in the first game of the tiebreaker doubleheader Friday at Marina.
The Sailors finish in fourth place and will look to be selected for an at-large playoff berth in Division 2A, where they are ranked No. 4.
In the first game Friday, the Barons trailed by 12 points at the half, came back to take the lead in the fourth, fell behind again and then came back a second time, taking the lead for good.
Aaron De Santiago (25 points) and Devin Payne (20 points) led the Barons to the win.
Jack Berry led the Sailors with 24 points.
By winning a coin flip Thursday, the Chargers had the advantage of playing just one game Friday. They waited for the outcome of the contest between Fountain Valley and the Sailors (22-7, 2-4).
The Barons, meanwhile, wound up playing three games in 24 hours, including back-to-back games against the Sailors.
Newport Harbor defeated Fountain Valley 77-62 on Thursday, setting up Friday’s tiebreaker.
“It’s tough for them,” Boyce said of the Sailors. “Kudos to Fountain Valley. They played their butts off for three games. It’s a tough situation.”
Fountain Valley coach Josh Beaty said his team displayed character, having to come right back to play Newport Harbor after being beaten by the Sailors the night before.
The Barons defeated the Sailors in two of their three meetings this season.
Beaty thinks the Barons have an excellent chance to be selected for an at-large playoff berth.
“At the end of the day it was a positive for us,” Beaty said. “Because Newport Harbor, to play them last night and then to come back in less than 24 hours and to beat them … It’s remarkable. So that’s what I’ll take away from it.”
Los Alamitos (23-5, 6-0) finished first in the Surf League and advances to the playoffs in Division 1, where the Griffins are ranked No.15.
Fountain Valley and Edison are ranked No.15 and 16, respectively, in Orange County.
