CdM stumbles into league
The Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball team failed to distinguish itself at the finish of Wednesday’s nonleague game at Edison. And, unfortunately for the Sea Kings, that dovetails with a somewhat demoralizing close to their preleague schedule.
CdM, which led five times, pulled even, 39-39, with 5:32 left. But it then went without a field goal until the final seconds to absorb a 54-43 loss in the Sunset League-Pacific Coast League challenge.
It was the third straight loss for the Sea Kings (9-6), who open Pacific Coast League play Friday at Irvine High.
“We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket,” CdM Coach Ryan Shachter said of a fourth period in which the visitors made just three of 11 field-goal tries. “And that seems to be a recurring theme over the last three games. I’m not sure why. We’re getting layups and open shots, we just can’t put it in right now.”
CdM’s shooting struggles were not limited to the final period. After a quick start that propelled the Sea Kings to a 5-0 lead, they finished four for 18 from the field in the first quarter, after which they trailed, 13-11.
CdM was down, 30-24, at halftime, when it was just six for 30 from the field (20%). But it did connect on all 11 of its foul shots to remain within striking distance of an Edison team that it defeated, 59-54, on Dec. 13.
The Sea Kings turned up their defensive intensity in the third quarter, holding the Chargers (12-5) without a field goal and to just five points to earn a 35-35 deadlock heading into the final eight minutes.
Edison scored two quick buckets in the fourth quarter, but an eight-footer by Ryan Stone and a layin by Matt Ctvrtlik knotted the score once again.
But while the Sea Kings were missing layups on back-to-back possessions, the Chargers, coached by former Estancia High head man Rich Boyce, began a 7-0 run that turned into a 15-3 surge that enabled them to pull away and halt their two-game losing skid.
“I thought we played well defensively, overall, especially in that third quarter,” Schachter said. “But we got away from that in the fourth quarter and did some things we weren’t supposed to do. [The Chargers] made shots to close the game and we didn’t.
“When you don’t score, the other team is going to get shots in transition and it’s hard to get your defense set up when you are not putting the ball in the basket.”
CdM finished 13 for 56 from the field (23.2%) to largely offset committing just nine turnovers, five fewer than the Chargers.
Edison shot 47.4% from the field (18 for 38) and drained 14 of its 15 free-throw attempts.
Senior Kevin Fults led CdM with eight points and five rebounds, while adding three steals.
Junior Sam Kobrine had seven points, as did Ctrtlik, a junior reserve. Senior Austin Ridge contributed six points off the bench for the Sea Kings.
Brae Ivey led the winners with 26 points, netti7ng eight of 11 field-goal tries and knocking down all nine of his foul shots.
An Ivey layup with 4:52 left broke the 39-39 tie and put Edison ahead for good. The Chargers hit three of their four three-pointers in the final 3:48 to help create a comfortable cushion that reached 14 points.
Schachter said his team’s struggles will require a quick remedy before the league opener.
“We’re not ready [for league] after our last three games,” Schachter said. “We have a lot of work to do. Irvine looked good tonight [in a close loss to Huntington Beach in a game played immediately before the CdM-Edison clash Wednesday. [The Vaqueros] played very hard and they have two players who have been on varsity for three or four years, so we’ll see.”
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Nonleague
Edison 54, Corona del Mar 43
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CdM – 11 – 13 – 11 – 8 — 43
Edison – 13 – 17 – 5 – 19 — 54
CdM – Fults 8, Kobrine 7, Ctvrtlik 7, Ridge 6, St. Geme 5, Stone 5, Le 3, Moss 2.
3-pt. goals – St. Geme 1, Kobrine 1, Ctvrtlik 1, Le 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
Edi – Ivey 26, Molina 8, Matthews 7, Garrity 5, White 4, Walker 4.
3-pt. goals – Molina 2, Ivey 1, Matthews 1.
Fouled out – White.
Technicals – None.