Southern Section 4-A Playoffs : Morris Is Looking Good (and Playing Better) for Corona del Mar

Two summers ago, Corona del Mar High School center Steve Morris was hit in the face while fighting for a rebound in a junior varsity basketball game. The blow shattered his contact lens and cut his eye.

Since the accident, the 6-foot 8-inch senior has worn protective goggles and seemed to play more cautiously despite his height advantage.

But about a month ago, Morris decided it was time for a change. He received doctor’s permission to abandon the goggles, and the decision has changed his game. Morris averaged 15 points in the Sea Kings’ final three games and helped Corona del Mar earn a berth in the Southern Section 4-A playoffs.

The new-look Morris and his teammates will meet South Coast League champion Mission Viejo at 7:30 tonight in first-round action in the Diablos’ gym. Corona del Mar enters the game with a 19-6 record. Mission Viejo is 22-4.

“He decided to try playing without the goggles about midway through the first round of league, and he has played better without them,” Sea King Coach Jack Errion said. “For that matter, the whole team improved a lot in the second round of league play.”

The Sea Kings’ only loss in the second round of Sea View League play was a one-point setback to Estancia. Corona del Mar has emerged as one of Orange County’s most improved teams.

“No doubt, they are the toughest third-place team in the division,” Mission Viejo Coach Bob Minier said. “Corona del Mar is running more this year, but if you look at their tough games, you’ll notice they were low-scoring games.”

Sea King junior Jeff Fryer is the second-leading scorer in the county with a 23.4 average, shooting 55% from the field. But in this game, the Sea Kings’ instrumental player figures to be guard Bob Zimmer.

Zimmer will defend Mission Viejo point guard Tom Desiano, who averaged 8.5 assists per game.

“If we can contain Desiano, we might be able to make a game of it,” Errion said. “He appears to be their key offensive player. But I don’t plan to do anything out of the ordinary, and we won’t intentionally slow down the game.”

Minier stressed the importance of his team getting good shots and remaining aggressive on the boards.

“We’ve shot well in our gym all year (where the Diablos were 7-1), and I think we’ll have a height advantage,” he said. “This year’s team is better than last year’s (a 3-A semifinalist) because we’re taller and better passers.”

In other 4-A action:

Capistrano Valley (20-5) at Redlands (17-7): The host Terriers haven’t lost a home game in three years, winning 17 consecutive games. Redlands’ closest game at home was a 15-point victory in league play. Vic Wharton, a 6-4 forward who was the team’s sixth man last year, leads the team with an 18.5 scoring average. Guard Mark Smith is the only returning starter and 6-5 sophomore Glen Trunnelle starts at center. Junior point guard Nathan Call led the county in assists, averaging 9.4 per game.

Estancia (24-3) at Santa Ana (17-8): Guard Adam Lockwood arrived at Monday’s practice with two black eyes suffered in an altercation at a party Sunday night, but he is expected to start against the Saints. The game features contrasting styles. Estancia uses a fast break as often as possible and plays a 2-3 zone defense. Santa Ana counters with a man-to-man defense and operates a low-post offense led by 6-5 center Roger Flores, who averages 16.9 points and 11.3 rebounds.

El Modena (15-8) at John W. North (20-3): The Huskies are the defending 3-A champions, but only Enoch Simmons returns from the title team. Simmons, who is being recruited by several Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. teams, averages 25 points per game and had a single-game, season-high of 39 points. The team’s top rebounder is 6-5 center Andy Johnson, and its very quick point guard is 5-10 Derek Robinson. Ryan Rycraw paces the Vanguard scoring with a 17.3 average. Forward Colin Moss averages 12.2 rebounds per game.

Dana Hills (17-5) at Orange (18-7): Dana Hills Coach Steve Thornton wasn’t thrilled to learn his team had to play at The Dome, Orange’s antiquated facility where the Panthers went 8-0 this season. “We were the only second-place team in the division that drew a first-place team,” Thornton said. The Dolphins have won 9 of their last 10 games behind the play of forward Bryan McSweeney, who averages 20.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Orange counters with junior forward Dave Roth, who averages 17 and 8.3.

San Gorgonio (18-7) at Newport Harbor (22-3): San Gorgonio defeated Hemet, 75-65, in a wild-card game Wednesday night to reach the playoffs. The Vikings has an all-underclass team led by 6-2 guard Rodney Moten, who averages 16 points a game. San Gorgonio, guided by former Westminster Coach Doug Stockham, has qualified for the playoffs six straight seasons. Newport Harbor is led by Sea View League MVP Chuck McGavran, who averages 16.2 points and 8.4 assists per game. The Sailors have won 18 of their last 19 games.