CdM walks into a trap

Joseph Boo

LA HABRA - Corona del Mar High’s boys basketball team was playing

quite well in the first quarter of Saturday night’s Sonora Cage Classic

championship game at Sonora High. Then Fremont started using its

quickness to trap defensively and went on to grab a 57-46 win.

After trailing, 15-11, Fremont’s defense harassed CdM into seven

turnovers and 0-10 shooting in the second quarter, and the Sea Kings got

all of their six points from free throws.

“That was the first time we faced that kind of quickness,” CdM coach Paul

Orris said. “It’s important to play these types of games because we

cannot simulate this type of pressure in practice.”

CdM (7-3) started out fast in the first quarter, using a 12-0 run to take the lead. Joel Templeton, who had 10 rebounds in the first half and 15

for the game, got a couple of layups, and Judd Hietbrink got one. Alec

Hanson and Kevin Hansen, both named to the All-tournament team, each hit

a three to cap off the run.

And then the disastrous second quarter came. While CdM didn’t hit a field

goal, Fremont hit four three-pointers in an 18-point outburst, including

a desperation heave just before halftime ended.

“We missed some shots,” Orris said. “They hit a three at the end of the

first half, and their center went out and hit a three.

“As the game went along, we did a better job adjusting (to the pressure).

We just didn’t make our shots.”

CdM gained back some of the momentum in the third quarter, when it held

Fremont to seven points. Hansen, who led CdM with 19 points, ended that

quarter with a tough, twisting bank shot and a three-pointer to close

CdM’s deficit to 36-34.

The Sea Kings tried to mount a comeback, but Fremont answered with big

shots. It opened the fourth with two three-pointers. Hansen closed the

lead to two again with a couple of short jumpers, but Fremont got both

baskets back on subsequent possessions.

After two Hietbrink free throws closed Fremont’s lead to four, Kenton

Paulino hit a three to extend the lead. Hansen made two more baskets down

the stretch, but Fremont hit 6 of 7 free throws to hold on.

“I’m real proud of our effort,” Orris said. “ We started making some

shots, but they made their shots and free throws down the stretch. This

game is nothing for us to hang our heads on.”

SONORA CAGE CLASSIC

Championship Game

Fremont, 57, Corona del Mar 46

Fremont 11 18 7 21 - 57

Corona del Mar 15 6 13 12 - 46

Fremont: Eatman 3, Wiliams 13, Dunn 7, Paulino 23, Bradford 9, Sandford

0, Harvey 2, Brooks 0.

3 pt. goals: Paulino 5, Williams 2, Dunn 1, Bradford 1.

Fouled Out: None.

Technicals: None.

Corona del Mar: Hanson 9, Hansen 19, Snell 4, Hietbrink 6, Templeton 6,

Shahangian 0, Bottom 2.

3 pt. goals: Hansen 2, Hanson 1.

Fouled Out: None.

Technicals: None.