Girls basketball: CdM is PCL champs

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - Three years of losing, frustration and heartaches

for Corona del Mar High’s Charlene Quon were erased in the span of 1.7

seconds.

The four-year varsity guard drained the game-winning, Pacific Coast

League-clinching three-pointer at the buzzer giving CdM’s girls

basketball team a dramatic 41-38 win over rival Costa Mesa Thursday

night.

Who better to hit the game winner on senior night than CdM’s lone senior.

“I’m still in shock,” Quon said after the game. “I didn’t even realize it

went in until my team attacked me. This has been the best year. It all

seems so unreal right now.”

With 1.7 seconds remaining and the score tied, 38-38, Quon took the

inbound pass from Chris Eyre, took a step back and drained the trey right

in front of the Sea Kings’ bench.

“I told Charlene in the huddle during the timeout, ‘Take us home,”’ Davis

said. “You couldn’t have written a script any better than this.

Unbelievable.”

The win gives the Sea Kings (21-5, 7-1 in league) sole possession of the

Pacific Coast League crown and for Coach Elbert Davis, being a little

selfish is just fine.

“I didn’t want to share this with anyone,” Davis said. “To be picked to

finish next to last in the league going into this season and ending up

winning it, really makes it all the more special.”

For Costa Mesa (15-9, 5-3) a hard fought comeback came up a three-pointer

too short. The Mustangs finish third behind the Sea Kings and Estancia,

following the Eagles 47-41 win over University.

“It was a great game,” Mustangs’ Coach Jim Weeks said. “CdM deserves all

the credit. They’ve played great all season long. We just came up a

little short. Well played on both sides.”

The Sea Kings had to survive some serious foul trouble and a serious

Mustangs’ comeback, led by Autumn Smith and Nancy Hatsushi.

CdM led, 29-22, after three quarters. After the first 70 seconds of the

fourth, Mesa led by three, thanks to two baskets by Smith and

back-to-back three-pointers by Hatsushi.

Smith finished with 16 points, while Hatsushi had eight, all in the

fourth quarter.

“When a team has the firepower like Mesa has, you can’t keep all of them

in check for the whole game,” Davis said. “We just tried to weather the

storm and hang on.”

CdM tried to hang on with Kristin McCoy (12 points), Jackie McCoy and

Chris Eyre all on the bench late in the third quarter and into the fourth

with four fouls.

“I kept telling my team for one more minute on the floor before I could

put them back in the game,” Davis said to his reserve players. “It took

some serious player-shuffling, but we got it done.”

With the game tied, Jackie McCoy grabbed a rebound and scored with 1:40

remaining, giving the Sea Kings the lead, 38-36.

Mesa responded with a basket by Jenny Earnest, tying the game with 25

seconds remaining.

On the next possession, CdM missed its shot, but the Mustangs knocked the

ball out of bounds, setting up the dramatic ending.

Quon, who finished with 10 points, was honored before the game as the

lone CdM senior with flowers. She was met at half court by her mother and

her brother.

“It was one of those moments that I will remember for the rest of my

life,” Quon said. “I’m looking forward to coming back and seeing our

banner up on the wall, showing what we accomplished.”

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Corona del Mar 41, Costa Mesa 38 Costa Mesa 9 9 4 16 - 38

Corona del Mar 10 15 4 12 - 41

Costa Mesa - Smith 16, Hatsushi 8, Earnest 7, Caron 5, Trejo 2, Muniz 0,

Marshall 0, Hitt 0.

3 pt. goals - Hatsushi 2, Earnest 1, Caron 1.

Fouled out - None.

Corona del Mar - K. McCoy 12, Quon 10, Hawkins 6, Gruber 5, J. McCoy 3,

Pham 2, Eyre 2, Meservey 1, Kawata 0.

3 pt. goals - Quon 2, Gruber 1.

Fouled out - None.