New league, new lease

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH -- After Corona del Mar High girls athletic teams

captured three Pacific Coast League championships, one CIF Southern

Section title and one CIF State crown this fall, Coach Albert Davis hopes

his basketball team isn’t a black sheep with the orange ball.

“All the other teams here have been having success and we want a piece of

the action,” said Davis, who enters his third year with a new lease and,

more importantly, a new league.

The Sea Kings lost their final 33 Sea View League games and have not made

the playoffs since 1996.

But, joining Costa Mesa, Estancia, University and Laguna Beach in the

PCL, Davis believes eight varsity returners give CdM a chance to compete.

“We know we’ll have to earn our respect,” Davis said. “No one is going to

roll over because we’re CdM. But I expect big things from this team.”

Davis said, for the first time in recent years, his players also carry

high expectations.

“It’s taken a few years to change the attitude around this program,” said

Davis, whose 8-18 team from a year ago doubled the victory of his first

CdM squad.

Balance and experience are the keys this season, in which Davis hopes to

avoid the injury problems which have magnified recent struggles.

Charlene Quon, a 5-foot-3 senior who averaged 10.4 points in 26 games

last season, is back to run the show at point guard.

“She is one of our weapons, but if teams gear up to stop Char, they’re

using the wrong approach,” Davis said. “This team won’t focus on one

player.”

Kristen McCoy, a 5-8 junior, missed 14 games after badly spraining her

ankle, minutes into the season opener. She came back to average 7.4

points, however, and, fully healthy, Davis considers her the team’s best

all-around player.

“She can score inside and outside, pass and play defense,” Davis said.

“She’s going to be tough to guard.”

Chris Eyre, a 5-11 junior, and Ainsley Kling, a 6-0 junior, will share

time in the post. Kling had 10 rebounds in a 52-21 season-opening romp

over Los Amigos Tuesday.

Courtney Kawata, a 5-3 sophomore, averaged 4.2 points as a freshman and

should contribute in the backcourt this season.

Jackie McCoy, a 5-7 freshman and Kristen’s sister, should also contribute

heavily, as will 5-9 sophomore Aliso Niguel transfer Season Meservey, who

ran for the state champion cross country team.

Carrie Hawkins, a 5-10 sophomore, will miss another two weeks with a hip

injury, but Davis believes she is a needed piece of the puzzle.

Mijanou Pham, a 5-6 junior, is a defensive stalwart, while sophomore

Andrea Gruber is another returner.

The Sea Kings bolstered their confidence with summer victories over

Marina, Fountain Valley, Villa Park and Estancia.

“If we don’t make the playoffs, it will be a disappointment,” Davis said.

CdM ROSTER

00 Ainsley Kling Jr.

5 Mijanou Pham Jr.

10 Charlene Quon Sr.

11 Courtney Kawata So.

13 Andrea Gruber So.

21 Kristen McCoy Jr.

22 Chris Eyre Jr.

33 Season Meservey So.

34 Carrie Hawkins So.

44 Jackie McCoy Fr.

Coach: Elbert Davis