Boys basketball: CdM gets by Roosevelt

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Corona del Mar High’s boys basketball team overcame

some holiday rust and defeated Roosevelt High, 65-55, in first-day

pool-play action onday night from the Coast Christmas Classic at Estancia

High.

“We played tonight like we haven’t played or practiced in four days,

which we haven’t,” Coach Paul Orris said. “Hopefully, in this tournament,

we can get this all out of our system before league play begins.”

One Sea King that was not affected by the time off was senior Kevin

Hansen. He scored 31 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

“We know where our bread is buttered when it comes to Kevin,” Orris said.

“We know that if he gets the ball enough, he can put up some solid

numbers for us and tonight, he did.”

CdM (9-3) will take on Hoover High today at 4:10 p.m. in another

pool-play matchup.

Roosevelt (2-2) jumped out to an early 6-2 lead before CdM took its game

up a notch.

“We looked like we were hibernating out there early,” Orris said. “It’s

too bad for the break because we were playing at a rather high level. We

have to get back to where we were.”

A 7-0 run gave the momentum back to the Sea Kings and they took a

three-point lead into the second quarter. Hansen scored eight of the

team’s 13 first-quarter points.

Roosevelt committed eight turnovers in the first quarter, 18 for the

game.

The second quarter was a quarter of runs.

CdM scored the first six points before Roosevelt called timeout and

regrouped.

The Rough Riders responded with a 12-2 run of their own to take a 23-22

lead, forcing the Sea Kings to regroup.

CdM closed out the first half with a 7-0 run and regained the lead for

good, 28-22.

“Our guys played hard, but it was ugly out there,” Orris said.

The Sea Kings’ defense held Roosevelt to only four points in the first

four minutes of the third quarter, giving CdM control of the game.

CdM was 18 for 25 from the free-throw line, including 11 of 14 in the

final quarter to keep the lead safe.

“I wish I could take the credit for that,” Orris said of the free throws.

“We know we have some guys that can shoot the ball and if we get it into

the right guys’ hands often enough, good things will happen. They’re very

consistent shooters.”

CdM senior guard Alec Hanson chipped in with 12 points, including two

three-pointers.

Peter Stemp led the Rough Riders with 12 points and Dan Morris added 11.