Pinto gets MVP

Estancia High senior Carlos Pinto was named Golden West League Most

Valuable Player in boys basketball by the circuit’s coaches, one of

12 Newport-Mesa players to earn all-league honors.

Joining Pinto on the first team are Eagle teammates Mike McDaniels

and Ray Verrette, as well as Costa Mesa’s Scott Knox, Tony Krikorian,

Brian Molina and Jeff Waldron.

Estancia’s Shaun Markley and Dallas Kopp were named to the second

team.

Pinto, a first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division III-A

selection as well as the Daily Pilot’s Newport-Mesa Player of the

Year, averaged 20.4 points and finished his four-year varsity career

with 1,538 points. He led the team in rebounding, blocked shots,

steals and three-pointers (47). He was also represented the South in

the Orange County All-Star game.

Pinto is deciding whether to continue his playing career at Cal

State Dominguez Hills or Concordia.

McDaniels, a junior, averaged 9.1 points per game.

Verrette was the Eagles’ top defender, registering 2.4 steals per

game as a senior. He was also named second-team All-CIF.

Knox, a Dream Team and first-team All-CIF selection, led all

Newport-Mesa players with 2.6 three-pointers per game and helped the

Mustangs achieve their first playoff victory in 42 years. He averaged

a team-best 13.6 points.

Krikorian, who hit a last-second shot to defeat Estancia Feb. 11,

led the league with 2.8 steals per game.

Molina led the league with 6.4 assists per game and was second in

steals (2.6 per contest).

Waldron, a second-team All-CIF selection, led the Mustangs with

7.9 rebounds per game and was second in scoring (8.8 ppg).

Markley led Estancia with 2.6 assists per game and chipped in 5.8

ppg.

Kopp was second on the team in blocked shots (18) and tied for second in rebounds after averaging 6.6 per contest.

Montillo was fourth among Eagles in rebounds (3.9 per game) and

sixth in scoring average (3.2 ppg).

Costa Mesa’s Brandon Aleson and Larry Puente as well as Estancia’s

Rafael Montillo received honorable mention.

Aleson, a senior, was second on the team in rebounds (3.7 rpg) and

fifth in scoring (6.0 ppg).

Puente, a sophomore, was an explosive player off the bench for

Mesa. He led the Mustangs with 19 blocked shots and was tied for

second with 3.7 rebounds per game.