CdM weathers storm

Bryce Alderton

In and out. No this is not a plug for the hamburger chain, but

rather the description of the 30-foot shot from near midcourt put up

by Laguna Beach High’s Alex Norfleet that could have sent the game

into a second overtime.

As it was, the Corona del Mar High boys basketball team weathered

a storm the size of Alaska coming from the host Breakers to win 59-56

in overtime in the Pacific Coast League opener for both teams.

Trailing by 21 to start the fourth quarter, the Breakers (9-8, 0-1

in league) outscored the Sea Kings, 23-2, in the final eight minutes,

culminating in Norfleet’s sixth three-pointer in 10 attempts with five seconds to go to tie it, 56-56. The Breakers forced a steal on

the ensuing possession and Laguna’s leading scorer Kyle Hogan (23

points) heaved a shot from midcourt that hit the back of the rim as

time expired in regulation.

In overtime, CdM (8-9, 1-0) regrouped and Kevin Mancillas, who

scored 15 points while grabbing six rebounds, hit the extra period’s

only basket -- a three-pointer on a cross-court pass from Brett

Matsen, who led the victors with 17 points.

Fitting Mancillas would hit a three to decide the outcome. CdM hit

11 from threedom while Laguna drained nine from behind the arc.

“We were fortunate to get the chance to redeem ourselves and we

came out on top,” Mancillas said. “It would have been nice to win by

25 but we had to pull it out.”

At the start of the second half, it looked like CdM would win

comfortably when it took its biggest lead, 43-19, on a Pancho

Seaborn-to-Mancillas three-pointer on the opening possession and

controlled the tempo for most of the third period before the

Breakers’ onslaught in the fourth quarter.

CdM hit 1 of 8 field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter, the only

basket coming on a Bart Welch layup off an assist from Jay Northridge

to stake the visitors to a 56-41 lead with 4:19 to go in regulation.

The Breakers went on a 15-0 run to close out the game, led by Hogan’s

nine points, five coming on free throws.

CdM didn’t help itself with five turnovers in that span.

“We played not to lose in that fourth quarter, it was ridiculous,”

said Mancillas, who grabbed two key defensive rebounds in overtime

that CdM Coach Ryan Curry said were “huge.”

“We held them scoreless in overtime largely on the defensive

boards and we got back to controlling the tempo on offense,” Curry

said.

Mancillas, Seaborn and Matsen each hit three three-pointers with

Northridge adding two in 29 total team attempts. CdM hit on 8-of-16

shooting from beyond the arc in the first half as the offense set up

on the perimeter with players making several passes to find the open

man.

Laguna held a 29-20 edge in rebounding, grabbing 10 boards in the fourth quarter.

Seaborn though made his sixth and final rebound, reaching to grab

Norfleet’s failed attempt that caromed to the left side of the rim.

Once taking possession he leaned over with ball in-hand as the buzzer

sounded.

CdM players shook their heads, hugged their mothers and fathers

and gave each other high-fives.

“We needed to win a close ball game so we can all believe in

ourselves,” Curry said.