Boys basketball: CdM’s Glass half full

Barry Faulkner

SAN GABRIEL - When Corona del Mar High boys basketball coach Paul

Orris said he was keeping some things in reserve during the Sea Kings’

CIF Southern Section Division III-AA first-round playoff game at

Gabrielino Wednesday night, he apparently wasn’t talking about

seldom-used Eric Glass.

The 6-foot-1 junior earned his first varsity start and quickly paid

dividends, stealing the ball on the Eagles’ first possession and

converting a layin, while being fouled. It was the first of two

three-point plays for Glass, who finished with a career-high six points,

five rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots to typify

a well-rounded 54-41 victory by the Sea Kings.

The win, CdM’s 11th playoff-opening triumph in 12 postseason

appearances under Orris, advanced the Sea Kings (12-16) to Friday’s

second round, when they will visit No. 2-seeded San Dimas (23-3).

With San Dimas Coach Gary Prestesater and his staff scouting in the

cozy 360-seat junior high gym, with a cement-like surface that featured

chipped paint in the three-second areas as well as the jump circle, Orris

tried to remain as vanilla as possible.

“We tried to hold some things back,” said Orris, who elected to start

Glass in place of 6-4 senior center Matt Marston, because of Gabrielino’s

lack of height.

“That was his first start and probably the first game he’s played

significant minutes,” Orris said. “I tell our kids they should always be

ready for an opportunity, because you never know when one will come.”

The initial steal and basket sparked a 7-0 lead for the visitors, who

were up, 9-1, by the time the Eagles hit their first field goal, after

opening 0 for 7.

CdM led, 13-5, at the end of the first period, but Gabrielino (10-17),

using an effective half-court trap, rallied for a 19-17 lead, before the

visitors reclaimed a 23-21 halftime edge.

Gabrielino tied it at 23 and later at 27 early in the third quarter,

before a Kevin Mancillas three-pointer put CdM up for good. Gabrielino

junior scoring leader Sean Carey (averaging 13.3 points coming in) hit a

15-footer to answer Mancillas’ three ball, but Glass’ second three-point

play sparked a 9-0 Sea King run to end the third quarter, creating a

39-29 advantage.

The Eagles got no closer than seven the rest of the way as CdM’s

defense continued to force turnovers.

Gabrielino committed 26 turnovers, to the Sea Kings’ 23, and the

Eagles made just 7 of 30 second-half field-goal attempts (23.3%). They

were 14 of 51 from the field overall (27.5%).

CdM drilled 6 of 12 from the field in the opening quarter and

connected on 7 of 13 field-goal attempts in the third quarter to help

them finish 22 of 50 (44%).

CdM senior Zach Brewster, slashing to the basket through the Eagles’

trapping zone defense, hit 8 of 12 en route to a game-high 17 points.

Senior Idean Shahangian added 12 points and five steals, while senior

Eric Snell chipped in eight points. Senior forward Charlie Alshuler

played his role to near-perfection, collecting six points, six assists,

five rebounds and a pair of steals.

Carey, who hit 4 of 11 from the field, was limited to 10 points.

Sophomore point guard Jeff Lim led the hosts with 11 points.

CIF DIVISION III-AA PLAYOFFS

First round

Corona del Mar 54, Gabrielino 41

Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 13 10 16 15 - 54

Gabrielino 5 16 8 12 - 41

Corona del Mar - Brewster 17, Shahangian 12, Snell 8, Alshuler 6,

Glass 6, K. Mancillas 3, Marston 2, Reyonolds 0, Richardson 0, B.

Mancillas 0, Matsen 0, L. Najar 0.

3-pt. goals - K. Mancillas 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Gabrielino - Lim 11, S. Carey 10, J. Castro 6, Garcia 5, R. Carey 4,

Lam 3, Ruiz 2.

3-pt. goals - Garcia 1, Lim 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.