CdM’s Slaughter silences Breakers

Chris Yemma

Standing at 6-foot-6, Corona del Mar High junior Scott Slaughter

wasn’t the tallest player on the court.

There were three other players on the Sea Kings’ boys basketball

team that had an inch on him.

But after Friday’s game against visiting Laguna Beach, Slaughter

was the biggest player on the floor.

That’s what happens when you change the outcome of a game with one

shot.

With 4.3 seconds remaining, Corona del Mar inbounded the ball at

half court hoping for one last chance for a tie or win. Just before

the buzzer sounded, Slaughter took a pass and threw it up from about

three feet beyond the arc.

Silence filled the air as the ball floated toward the hoop. As

soon as it swished through, the crowd rushed the court and the team

rushed Slaughter.

With just one shot, Slaughter played out what every little kid has

been practicing since they could shoot a ball, and gave the Sea Kings

a 38-37 Pacific Coast League victory at a crucial point in CdM’s

season.

“I got the ball, shot it right away and when I looked at it, I

knew it was in,” Slaughter said. “I couldn’t even believe it. The

crowd just rushed the court -- it was awesome.”

Awesome it was. The win gave the Sea Kings (8-12, 3-2 in league) a

huge momentum swing in league play and it toppled Laguna Beach (13-8,

3-2) from the top of the league standings.

It also helped a certain coach rest a little bit easier.

“I always like to say it’s not about winning and losing, but this

is going to be a nice weekend,” Corona del Mar Coach Ryan Curry said.

One flick of Slaughter’s wrist and the only shot he made sent the

Breakers away the broken team.

The shot also proved to be redemption for Slaughter.

With 25 seconds left, Laguna Beach’s Max Jaffe hit a three-pointer

over Slaughter to give the Breakers a 37-35 lead. On the next

possession, a missed CdM shot bounced off a Laguna player and out of

bounds, setting up the pivotal play.

“They hit some shots,” Slaughter said. “When that kid came down

and hit that three on me I was worried. But we came back.”

The Slaughter shot was a bit of a surprise. The play was set up to

go to the No. 1 option in that situation -- senior Brett Hirata, who

had just started to heat up. But he wasn’t open, and it ended up in

the hands of Slaughter, who did anything but butcher the shot.

Of course, Hirata was a key component in getting the Sea Kings

within striking distance. Down 27-20 in the fourth, Hirata nailed two

treys and a deuce to even the score up at 30. He finished with a

game-high 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

And the Sea Kings won a must-win game at home.

“It’s really emotional on lots of levels,” Curry said. “It was

last second, against Laguna Beach, who got us twice last year and

it’s the first time I’ve beaten [Laguna Beach Coach] Mark Hill, who’s

an excellent coach.”

Junior Ryan Lance chipped in six points for the Sea Kings, while

sophomore Adam Smith had five. Slaughter’s brother, Ted, had four

points to add a total of seven points and a game-winning shot to the

Slaughter family resume.

As minutes after the game passed by, the 6-6 Sea Kings’ hero of

the day was talking business.

“We needed this win,” Slaughter said. “Right now we could be tied

for first in league. We did what we needed to do and we shut down

their good players.”

And it was business fulfilled for Curry.

“I tell the kids that you have to be able to win at home,” Curry

said. “You also have to steal some on the road. Right now we’re just

trying to get a playoff spot.”

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 38,

Laguna Beach 37

Score by Quarters

*--*

Laguna Beach 13 10 4 10 -- 37

Corona del Mar 6 10 4 18 -- 38

*--*

Laguna Beach -- Kote 3, Kovacevic 7, Clark 11, Jaffe 3, Nikolic

13.

3-pt. goals -- Clark 2, Jaffe 1, Nikolic 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Corona del Mar -- R. Lance 6, T. Slaughter 4, Hirata 14, T. Lance

2, Kaluz 2, S. Slaughter 3, Smith 5, Hinton 2.

3-pt. goals -- Hirata 2, S. Slaughter 1, Smith 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.