Boys basketball: CdM tramples Saddleback, 60-33

Joseph Boo

SANTA ANA - The last time Corona del Mar High’s boys basketball

team played Saddleback this season, the Sea Kings breezed to a 52-35 win.

But the ease of that victory was what made CdM Coach Paul Orris

apprehensive about the second game between the two on Wednesday at

Saddleback High.

“Our biggest fear was that we wouldn’t show up focused,” he said. “We

played them in the week of Christmas, and we won easily. So I was afraid

that would make it hard for us to come focused.”

Well, CdM, ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division III-AA, did lose

its focus, but only after it built up a 16-2 lead. Then the Sea Kings got

sloppy, but they coasted the rest of the way for their nonleague win.

The Sea Kings (15-6) hit their first three shots and hit 7 of 9 during

the 16-2 start. Kevin Hansen scored six of his game-high 18 points during that stretch.

The second quarter was pretty ugly though, as both teams combined for 18

turnovers. Nevertheless, CdM maintained a double-digit lead for most of

the game by holding Saddleback (4-16) to 13 of 51 shooting from the

floor.

“We really did a good job employing our man defense,” Orris said. “We

played pretty good defense on their top scorer. If you shut down their

No. 1 scorer, then you make other guys score, which makes it harder for

them.”

Saddleback’s top scorer, Ismael Isais, averaged 16.7 points per game

coming in, but with guards Alec Hanson and Eric Snell on him, Isais ended

up with a measly nine points.

After missing 13 games with a broken wrist, CdM forward Brooks Morris,

who averages 11.8 points per game, returned to the Sea Kings. He got four

points and three rebounds in eight minutes of action.

“Actually, I only wanted to play him for one or two minutes,” Orris said.

“But Judd (Hietbrink) got in foul trouble, and I needed another forward.”

“Morris is still not 100%. He worked hard to come back and play for us,

and we’ll only get stronger down the stretch because of him. We can dress

10 guys now. We’re pleased to have him back.”

All 10 guys played and scored for CdM. Hansen and Hanson, who scored 13,

were the two Sea Kings that scored in double digits. Hansen also led his

team with 13 rebounds, and Hanson’s five assists was a team high.

Hietbrink scored six and grabbed five rebounds in limited action. Elliott

Patterson scored five and Eric Snell had three points.

CdM put pesky Saddleback away emphatically in the fourth with a 25-point

outburst. Two Hansen baskets, a Hanson three, and a jumper from Morris

gave CdM a 45-26 lead halfway into the fourth quarter.

The Sea Kings then found the opportunity to play the rest of their

players. Joel Templeton grabbed five boards, and Jason Owen hit a

three-pointer at the end for CdM, which resumes Pacific Coast League play

at Laguna Beach on Friday.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 60, Saddleback 33

Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 16 8 11 25 - 60

Saddleback 8 7 7 11 - 33

Corona del Mar - Hansen 18, Hanson 13, Hietbrink 6, Patterson 5, Snell 3,

Shahangian 2, Templeton 4, Morris 4, Bottom 2, Owen 3.

3-pt. goals - Hanson 2, Owen 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - Hietbrink 1, Hansen 1.

Saddleback - Ju. Gonzalez 12, Jo. Gonzalez 11, Isais, Pedroza 2, R.

Gonzalez 0, Nguyen 0, Valdivia 2, Higareta 0.

3-pt. goals - Isais 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.