CdM holds on for the win

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - After three quarters, Corona del Mar High’s girls

basketball team seemed to be heading to an easy win with a 14-point lead.

Then, visiting Aliso Niguel wiped away all but one point before falling,

48-47, in nonleague play on Tuesday.

“We tensed up,” CdM Coach Elbert Davis said. “We let them back in the

ballgame. This is one of those games where we should have put them away.”

The Sea Kings (7-3) left Aliso Niguel’s offense in shambles with a

pressing defense that held the Lady Wolverines (5-5) to 15 points in the second and third quarters, as well as 16 forced turnovers. Aliso Niguel

contributed to its woes by letting passes slip through its fingers, and

missing layups.

On the other side, Kristen McCoy was dominant, scoring 22 points,

grabbing eight rebounds, and getting six steals. She scored CdM’s first

six points in the second quarter, and scored seven points in a row in the

third, capped off by a three-point play.

“She’s always ready to play,” Davis said of McCoy.

Aliso Niguel was down by 14 points two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Then, two free throws by Nikia Hastie started an 8-2 Aliso Niguel rally.

Charlene Quon hit a jumper for CdM in the middle of the run, and McCoy

grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to keep CdM up, 47-37.

That layup by McCoy, which came with 4:46 left, was the last field goal

by CdM in the game. After Hastie hit one of two free throws, Aliso Niguel

freshman Julia Pederson, who led all scorers with 25 points, scored eight

points in a row.

She grabbed the ball and raced down the court for a layup. On her team’s

next possession, she converted on a three-point play. Then she hit a

three-pointer with a defender in her face to cut CdM’s lead to 47-46 with

60 seconds left.

Quon then hit one of two free throws to give CdM a two-point lead.

Pederson also split two free throws on the next possession. Aliso Niguel

then fouled CdM, who couldn’t hit the first free throw on a one-on-one.

Pederson then got the ball and raced down the court. Her three-point

attempt at the buzzer hit the front of the rim, and CdM escaped.

After the game, Davis did not look like the coach of the winning team.

“It’s disappointing the way we played,” he said. “We didn’t play smart

basketball. It’s frustrating, but a win’s a win.”

Courtney Kawata had the next highest point total for CdM with eight

points, hitting two three-pointers. The Sea Kings only dressed eight

players, losing a girl to holiday vacation.

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 48, Aliso Niguel 47

Aliso Niguel 12 9 6 20 - 47

Corona del Mar 14 13 11 10 - 48

AN - Hastie 12, Umemoto 0, Griffin 2, Pederson 25, Krebs 6, Stoddard 0,

Saiz 2, Lutes 0, Nagano 0.

3 pt. goals: Pederson 4, Hastie 1.

Fouled Out: None.

Technicals: None.

CdM - K. McCoy 22, Quon 6, J. McCoy 6, Meservey 0, Eyre 0, Kawata 8,

Hawkins 5, Kling 1.

3 pt. goals: Kawata 2, Quon 1.

Fouled Out: None.

Technicals: None.