CdM steams past Calvary Chapel

Barry Faulkner

Having played on the precipice of postseason qualification for nine

days, the Corona del Mar High boys basketball team can enjoy an

anxiety-free weekend.

The Sea Kings ensured they won’t have to sweat out having to earn

a CIF Southern Section Division III-A at-large berth by beating

Calvary Chapel, 56-49, in a Pacific Coast League third-place playoff

Friday at University High.

The loss ended the season for the Eagles (10-17, 4-7 in league),

who knocked off CdM (Tuesday in overtime) and Tesoro (Thursday) to

force the playoff showdown. Including a December tournament clash, it

was the fourth meeting between the two teams. CdM won three.

“We’ve played the last four games needing one win to be in (the

playoffs),” CdM Coach Ryan Curry said. “It took us until the fourth

game, but we got that win and it’s awesome. I’m really proud of us.”

The victory, led by junior guard Jay Northridge’s career-high 23

points, ended a three-game losing steak for CdM (12-15, 5-6). It also

enhanced the Sea Kings’ playoff plight, having secured a guaranteed

berth, instead of the at-large bid, for which all teams with at least

11 wins are considered.

“The at-large bid was never a guarantee,” Curry said. “We’ve been

controlling our on destiny for four games. Now, we don’t have to

worry.”

The Sea Kings, who missed the playoffs last year, will learn of

their first-round fate when pairings are released Sunday.

Friday’s win was not without some worry, though Calvary Chapel’s

only lead was 2-0.

CdM, the designated home team on the neutral court, where it had

not won since 2001, rallied for an 11-4 advantage and was up, 16-9,

at the end of the first quarter.

CdM held its lead in the second quarter, despite going the final

7:08 of the half without a field goal.

Calvary Chapel closed to within 22-20 at halftime and was within

24-23 after two Brenen Beeler free throws with 2:04 elapsed in the

third quarter.

But Northridge, limited to eight points in Tuesday’s 68-60

overtime loss against the visiting Eagles and six points in

Thursday’s loss to league champion Northwood, connected on

back-to-back three-pointers, both from the left corner, to

reestablish control.

Northridge, who drilled a career-high five three-pointers,

converted from beyond the arc with 1:02 left in the quarter to give

the Sea Kings a 37-30 edge, heading into the final eight minutes.

Northridge scored five points and assisted on a Brett Matsen layin

to help the Sea Kings maintain a 46-41 lead, midway through the final

quarter and junior Pancho Seaborn netted a 23-foot three-pointer to

make it an eight-point cushion with 3:33 left.

After Calvary closed to within 49-43, Northridge found Bart Welch

for a layin with 1:10 remaining and the Sea Kings converted 5 of 8

foul shots in the final 55 seconds to keep the Eagles at bay.

“My dad told me a long time ago that basketball is a game of

pressure,” Curry said. “If you can’t handle pressure, you probably

ought to find another sport. Jay made some big baskets for us today.

He was a little disappointed with himself after the last Calvary

Chapel game, because they left him open and he didn’t hit as many

shots as he thought he should have.”

Northridge, who went down twice in the fourth quarter with a cramp

in his calf muscle, said it was gratifying to post his best scoring

output of his two-year varsity career when his team needed it most.

He was 7 of 11 from the field, including 5 of 9 from threedom, and

had four assists and two steals. His previous single-game high this

season was 12 points.

“If we didn’t win this one, we would have played a tougher team in

the first round,” Northridge said. “I think everyone played well and

we played as a team. This win was big.”

The Sea Kings survived a 34-32 rebound disadvantage, including

13-6 in offensive boards, by outshooting the Eagles. Calvary hit just

17 of 56 field-goal attempts (30.4%), including just 27.6% after

intermission.

CdM drained 12 of 23 second-half field-goal tries (52.2%) to

finish 19 of 41 from the field (46.3%). The Sea Kings, playing

without senior sharpshooter Kevin Mancillas (serving a one-game

suspension for disciplinary reasons), were 7 of 20 from beyond the

arc.

Junior Adam Freede had 11 points, including three big free throws

down the stretch, while Seaborn finished with seven points and nine

rebounds.

Welch pulled down 10 rebounds to go with his four points, while

Matsen chipped in nine points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.

Senior Robbie Luce also added a spark off the bench, finishing

with two points, two boards, one blocked shot and one assist.

Curry said 6-foot-3 senior Brandon Sherick-Odom, who has missed

the last nine games with an ankle injury, could be ready for the

playoffs.

Joey Jones led Calvary Chapel with 23 points, including five

three-pointers.