CdM loses to El Toro

WESTMINSTER — Three times Corona del Mar High had watched El Toro play. In those boys’ basketball games, Coach Ryan Schachter said guard Dimitri Kamarullah never stood out.

So even when the Sea Kings entered the semifinals of the La Quinta Tournament without starting point guard Erik Rask, they ignored Kamarullah.

CdM could account for Rask Friday as he was on a football visit at the University of Pennsylvania. But for some reason the Sea Kings forgot all about Kamarullah even when he made his presence felt.

Kamarullah made the Sea Kings pay, scoring a career-high 24 points to help the Chargers hold on late for a 62-56 victory to advance to the title game.

The Sea Kings (2-1) expected to be playing tonight for the title, but they’ll play Edison for third-place at La Quinta High at 6. El Toro (5-0) plays JSerra at 8.

“He surprised us,” Schachter said of Kamarullah, who made 10 of 13 field-goal attempts. “That was the guy that we were going to help off of [defensively]. He was the difference in the game.”

Despite Kamarullah’s effort, which included four three-point plays, CdM battled back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to make it a game late. Center Stefan Kaluz and small forward Joe Eberhard elevated their play to get CdM within 55-50 with 1:28 remaining.

Eberhard, who led CdM with 19 points, had just hit his fourth three. But that’s where the trouble began for the defending CIF Southern Section Division III-A champs. They made mistakes.

After Sean Donovan forced El Toro to turn the ball over with pressure defense, CdM missed a baseline jumper. Then after fouling El Toro forward Brett Andrews, CdM allowed one of the three guys it focused on slowing down to get an offensive rebound after Andrews missed the second free-throw attempt.

Another foul and Jonathan Bastos went to the line, where he converted both free throws to put El Toro ahead, 58-50, with 46 seconds left.

CdM pushed the ball up court and Kaluz knocked down a three-pointer in the corner, giving him 18 points and cutting the deficit back to five. But after a quick timeout, the Sea Kings fouled 6-6 Andre Murillo, who gave the 6-9 Kaluz fits for much of the first three quarters.

Murillo, who had 16 points, made the first free throw before misfiring on the second. No problem, he grabbed the offensive rebound, putting an end to CdM’s hope of advancing to the title game.

“That’s my No. 1 pet peeve in basketball, giving up a rebound on free throws,” Schachter said.

La Quinta Tournament SemifinalEl Toro 62, Corona del Mar 56

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM – Eberhard 19, Kaluz 18, Donovan 9, Ragsdale 4, Brakeville 4, Meshkin 2.

3-pt. goals – Eberhard 4, Kaluz 1, Ragsdale 1, Brakeville 1.

El Toro – Kamarullah 24, Murillo 16, Bastos 12, Verbeck 5, Andrews 3 Jackson 2. 3-pt. goals – Kamarullah 2, Verbeck 1, Bastos 1.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.