Boys basketball: Making summer strides

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Though, admittedly, his team has a long way to go,

second-year Corona del Mar High boys basketball coach Ryan Curry prefers

to focus on how far his Sea Kings have come.

So, after a 70-51 loss to Calabasas Saturday in the quarterfinals of

the George Yardley Summer Cage Classic at Newport Harbor High, Curry, who

endured a 5-22 debut season that included losing nine of the final 10

games, was quick to emphasize the tournament landmark the Sea Kings had

already reached.

“I told the kids (afterward) that we were in a place we’d never been

before,” Curry said. “To have won our first two games and to get into the

quarterfinals is something we should feel good about. We had our chances

today and we didn’t shoot well. But, I don’t think we’ve shot well the

whole tournament and we’ve been in ballgames. I’m not going to throw the

baby out with the bathwater.”

The Sea Kings, who defeated St. Monica and Back Bay rival Newport

Harbor Friday to reach the quarterfinals, rallied from an 11-3 deficit to

take a 20-19 lead with 6:23 left in the first half.

CdM, which, without a player taller than 6-foot-2 relies on its

perimeter shooting and ability to penetrate, pulled even at 29-29 with

2:20 left before halftime, when Brandon Sherick-Odom connected on a

15-foot jumper.

But Calabasas, which started a front line including 6-9 Jason Saunders

and 6-6 Steve Saunders, scored the final seven points of the half to gain

some breathing room.

Calabasas, coached by Russell White, who is married to former Newport

Harbor volleyball standout Tara Kroesch, hit a three-pointer to open the

third quarter and reeled off a 9-2 advantage to take apparent command.

Still, the scrappy Sea Kings kept competing had four foul shots and

possession, trailing, 51-39, with 6:23 left.

CdM, however, hit just one of the four free throws, the latter two

courtesy of a technical after a Calabasas player protested a foul call.

CdM then failed to convert on its ensuing possession and never seriously

threatened.

Kevin Mancillas, who will be a senior, paced the Sea Kings with 21

points, including four three-pointers, while junior-to-be Brad Freede

scored 15.

Both Pancho Seaborn and Jay Northridge (a combined nine points) were

plagued by foul trouble for CdM, which finishes up today against El Toro

at 1:30 at the Newport Harbor main gymasium.

Freede and Sherick-Odom each had five rebounds, while teammate Brett

Matsen added four.

In other tournament action:

Newport Harbor bounced back from its second-round loss to CdM by

trouncing La Canada, 78-51, behind 30 points from 6-8 senior-to-be Nedim

Pajevic.

Pajevic’s production came off the bench, as Sailors’ Coach Larry Hirst

said he shuffled his starting lineup in hopes of motivating Pajevic after

a what Hirst deemed a lackluster effort against CdM.

“Today was a little tough love lesson for Nedim,” Hirst said. “But I

think he responded very well. He got his points in about 2 1/2 quarters,

since he didn’t play hardly any of the fourth quarter after we got ahead.

He got good position on the block and he finished well, which even led to

some three-point plays.”

Pajevic scored eight in the second quarter, 12 in the third and 10 in

the fourth to pace Newport Harbor, which was ignited early by returning

guard Chase Cameron. Cameron, who will be a senior, scored eight of his

10 points in the first quarter, after which the Sailors trailed, 13-12.

The Sailors finish up consolation play tonight, meeting either Victor

Valley or San Gorgonio at 7 at Vanguard University.

Estancia also rebounded from a tough initial day, edging Tesoro,

88-87, in triple overtime Saturday at Estancia, said Eagles Coach Chris

Sorce.

Erik Andersen, who will be a senior, hit the first of two free throws

with one second left for the difference, after making a steal and getting

fouled while shooting.

Sorce said Matt Cachola, Costa Mesa transfer Jordan Stroman and

returning sophomore Carlos Pinto paced the Estancia offense against

Tesoro.

The Eagles, defeated Friday at home by Calabasas and Trabuco Hills,

play North Torrance today at 1 p.m. at Newport’s auxiliary gym.