Boys basketball: CdM’s continues down unlikely road

Barry Faulkner

CERRITOS - The journey to the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA

playoffs has been the thing for the Corona del Mar High boys basketball

team. And what an unlikely adventure it has been.

“We’ve come a long way,” said Coach Paul Orris, whose 11-16 Sea Kings

visit Gabrielino (10-16) in Wednesday’s first round, beginning at 7:30

p.m.

“I’m just pleased that our guys have a chance to experience the

playoffs,” continued Orris, preparing for his 12th postseason in 15 years

at the varsity helm.

Orris has coached half of the school’s four section championship

teams, as well as three of the Sea Kings’ four section runners-up.

And while an extended playoff run this season would be difficult to

predict, this group has made a habit of exceeding expectations.

“This team has come farther from where it started than any team I’ve

had in a long time,” Orris said of the Sea Kings, who opened the season

1-5 and were 6-10 heading into the Pacific Coast League.

CdM, however, opened league with wins over Laguna Beach, Northwood and

Estancia and, after a thrilling 84-82 win over eventual co-champion

University Tuesday, entered Thursday’s regular-season finale with a shot

at a share of the title.

The Sea Kings’ 58-39 home loss to Costa Mesa in the PCL finale,

however, forced them to settle for an at-large berth, for which their 11

wins met the minimum standard.

Senior guards Idean Shahangian (12.5 points per game) and Eric Snell

(12.0), as well as senior forwards Zack Brewster (9.7) and Charlie

Alshuler (6.4), have helped turn things around for CdM.

Gabrielino, which tied for second in the Mission Valley League, is a

relatively new school with only one league title under its belt (last

season). Coach Scott Brummett’s Eagles have only one scorer, 6-foot-4

junior forward Sean Carey, averaging in double figures (13.3 points per

game).

“It sounds like we’ve got a shot at it,” said Orris, who was assured

by Bob Serven, coach of PCL rival Costa Mesa, that his team would beat

Gabrielino.

The most prominent issue involving the Gabrielino program may be the

size of its home. Since the high school site, including the gymnasium, is

still under construction, the Eagles’ currently play in what was formerly

a junior high gym.

“They tell me it seats 600, but that’s on the high side,” said Orris,

who was told the actual capacity may be closer to 250. “I guess there are

only about four rows of bleachers.”

Should CdM survive its road assignment Wednesday, it would return to

the road, since No. 2-seeded San Dimas (23-3) would host Friday’s

second-round game after receiving one of the division’s eight first-round

byes.