CdM grabs berth

<p>Schulte leads the way as Corona del Mar wins its one-game playoff with Santa Ana Calvary Chapel to advance to the CIF playoffs.IRVINE -- Corona del Mar High’s Katie Schulte has slowly been making strides toward becoming the consistent scorer she was before the foot injury that forced her to miss most of December and part of January.

Schulte looked a lot like her old, high-scoring self on Friday night. The senior scored a team-high 18 points, leading the Sea Kings to a 44-37 girls’ basketball win over Santa Ana Calvary Chapel in a one-game playoff for the Pacific Coast League’s last automatic playoff spot at Northwood High.

Schulte hit Corona del Mar’s only three-pointer with four minutes left in the fourth quarter to give the Sea Kings a 38-35 lead. On their next possession, she dished the ball to Allie Duernberger, who made a 13-foot shot for a 40-35 lead.

Shannon Johnson’s putback with 38 seconds left iced the victory for Corona del Mar (13-11, 7-6 in league).

“It was good for us to have something specific to play for,” Corona del Mar Coach Scott Kahawai said. “We were 1-1 this week in games where we weren’t sure where we’d be after the outcome. I think knowing a win would put us in the CIF playoffs gave us energy.”

“We definitely had the motivation,” Schulte said. “Everyone was fired up, even for the shootaround, and it carried over into the game.”

Corona del Mar defeated Calvary Chapel 44-39 on the road Jan. 6 without Schulte, then lost to the Eagles, 34-31, on Feb. 3 at home with her.

Schulte and center Kristina Wayte showed they were going to be big factors right away. The two Sea Kings scored 19 of the team’s 21 first-half points. Schulte was effective driving to the basket and Wayte took control in the low post.

But Calvary Chapel held a 24-21 lead at halftime, spurred by Chelsea DeLuca’s 11 points.

DeLuca, adept at driving to the basket in the first half, was held to four second-half points as the Sea Kings clamped down on her with double- and triple-teams.

“I think our half-court defense was a big key for us,” Kahawai said. “One of our main goals was to stop Chelsea [DeLuca], and we stopped her in the second half. We did a good job keying on her.”

The Sea Kings held the Eagles to single-digit scoring in three quarters, including six points in the third quarter.

“I think we won because of our defense, our energy and our heart,” Schulte said.

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 55,

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 52

Score by Quarters