Youth abounds for CdM

After losing nearly all of his scoring from last year’s Corona del Mar High girls’ basketball team, there was little else Coach Mark Decker could call it.

This year, he said, is a youth movement.

“We’ve got two freshmen and a sophomore in the mix,” said Decker, a former assistant for the Orange Coast College men’s basketball team and head coach of the Irvine High boys’ team. “We’re pretty young this year but I think the future is really looking good.”

CdM (2-1) does return three players from a team that went 9-17 a year ago, 2-6 in the Pacific Coast League. They are seniors Susan Moheimani and Allie Childs and junior Sami Stern.

No player averaged more than five points per game last year, Decker said. A season ago, CdM was led by seniors Allie Duernberger and Shannon Johnson and junior Ashley Kirby.

Duernberger, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection and three-year varsity starter, averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game.

“She was everything, our leader, our stud,” Decker said. “It’s big shoes to fill. We’ve got several girls who are trying to fill that role.”

Johnson was another three-year varsity starter at guard and Kirby, a Daily Pilot Dream Team selection, led the Sea Kings in scoring with 13.5 per game.

Duernberger is playing basketball at Calvin College in Michigan, while Johnson is playing volleyball at Point Loma Nazarene. Decker said Kirby decided not to play basketball this year. He added 6-foot-4 junior Conley Kipp, who also played varsity basketball last year, isn’t playing after deciding to focus on club volleyball.

A lot to lose, but the Sea Kings do have talent. Moheimani and Stern, both guards, were part-time starters last year. As a senior point guard, Moheimani will be a team leader.

“She has been through a lot of varsity games,” Decker said. “She knows what it takes, and we expect her to show the other girls that.”

Childs may also be a key.

“She has some experience, and she’ll provide some senior leadership as well,” Decker said.

Decker is also excited about the potential of sophomore post player Katie Bergsma. At 5-11, Bergsma is CdM’s tallest player by a full four inches.

“She played on the junior varsity last year, and she’s really athletic,” Decker said. “She’s our inside presence, our best rebounder, and she blocks some shots. She just does a really good job for us in the middle.”

Junior guards Brittany Rhyme and Jessica Brockett are also in the mix, and a talented freshman class includes guards Ellie Nadal and Kayla Marolt.

“Kayla is our best athlete,” Decker said. “She’s our best defender and she has great energy. She plays extremely hard, and that goes a long way.”

Going a long way in the Pacific Coast League may prove more difficult. Decker said Laguna Hills and University are not only favorites in league, but in CIF Division IV-A as well.

Laguna Hills is the defending Division IV-A champion, while Uni and Irvine both made the quarterfinals last year.

“Every night’s going to be a battle,” he said. “Right now we’re just hopefully building our confidence so we can make some noise in league.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.