Girls hoops: Sea Kings stunned by Uni, 44-31

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - His team’s shooting performance almost brought

Corona del Mar High Coach Elbert Davis to tears. At times, he looked away

and when University left with a 44-31 Pacific Coast League victory

Thursday, Davis pointed to the gray hairs in his goatee.

“That’s why you see these,” he said.

The Sea Kings failed to capitalize on 30 Trojan turnovers and shot 12

of 55 from the field (22%). CdM (7-12, 2-2 in league) also made only 2 of

its 25 three-point attempts.

“Any time you do that, you’re not going to win,” Davis said. “I don’t

care if you’re playing (National Junior Basketball) or any level,

shooting for a low percentage is not going to win ballgames.”

CdM’s 31-point output is the second lowest of the season. The Sea

Kings lost, 55-9, to Irvine earlier in the season when they were struck

with injuries.

Down just 23-22 at halftime, CdM’s shooting touch worsened. And, Uni

(10-9, 3-1) took advantage.

The Sea Kings shot 1 for 13 from the field in the third period. CdM

sophomore Jackie McCoy (five points) was the only Sea King to make a shot

from the field in that quarter. Her sister, Kristin (nine points), scored

the other two points on free throws as CdM was outscored, 13-4.

Kristin McCoy’s nine points was just the second time this season the

returning PCL Co-MVP failed to post double figures. The Trojans appeared

to take her out of her inside game as the Sea Kings continually launched

from outside.

“Our strength is getting the ball to Kristin,” Davis said. “We decided

to play individually tonight, not go with what got us there. We won a

league title last year getting the ball down low to our MVP ... That’s

what the Lakers are having problems with right now.”

Uni’s 6-foot-2 senior Kirsten von Tungeln, who scored a game-high 13

points, forced the Sea Kings to earn points from outside the paint. She

finished with 18 rebounds and is averaging 15.5 a game this season,

according to her coach, Bob Bernal. She grabbed 31 boards for her season-high against Torrance earlier in the season.

But, the Trojans’ weak spot was definitely turnovers, especially in

the first half, when they committed 17. Uni’s miscues became so

maddening, Bernal shouted to his team, “Hey, we’re the ones wearing

blue!”

After the game, he said, “This was one of the ugliest wins that I can

remember. But, we did what we had to. We need to play better to beat

Estancia on Tuesday.”

Sea King sophomore Kellyann Klien came off the bench and finished with

a game-high 11 points. Madison Otterbien, who also came off the bench in

the first quarter, sparked the Sea Kings with four points.

“(Klien) played well,” Davis said. “There were some bright spots.

(Otterbien) had some good plays, too. There were other girls who were not

stepping up to the plate. And, that’s why I’m starting different lineups

every game because I’m trying to find five girls who are going to play

hard and execute.”

Davis has had different starting lineups in each of the first four

league games. Before taking on Uni, he jokingly flipped a coin to decide

who would start.

The Sea Kings will try to rebound Tuesday, when they visit Costa Mesa

at 7 p.m.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

University 44, Corona del Mar 31

University 14 9 13 8 - 44

Corona del Mar 12 10 4 5 - 31

University - von Tungeln 13, Ariazand 9, Janda 8, Sutter 4, Yeo 4,

Allah 2, Anaya 2, Dajani 2.

3-pt. goals - Ariazand 3.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Corona del Mar - Klien 11, K. McCoy 9, J. McCoy 5, Otterbien 4, Pham

2, Kawata 0, Hawkins 0, Gruber 0, Marks 0, Alateha 0, Luu 0.

3-pt. goals - J. McCoy 1, Klien 1.

Fouled out - Pham.

Technicals - none.