CdM’s chase is over

CORONA DEL MAR — West Valley High Coach Chuck Peebles stepped into the Corona del Mar gym in awe.

The dozens of CIF Southern Section championship banners stood out, almost as much as the blue suede sports coat he wore.

“It’s pretty impressive. It’s pretty impressive,” said Peebles of the titles won by the Sea Kings’ sports teams. “I even wore blue. Can you believe that? I don’t look good in many colors and I probably don’t look any better than this.”

Everyone inside overlooked the not-so trendy coat, along with the shiny silver tie, black collared shirt, blue jeans, and black cowboy boots.

They could with the effort his Mustangs of Hemet put forth Tuesday night in front of a packed gym.

West Valley shined at the end, beating the No. 4-seeded Sea Kings, 55-50, ending CdM’s goal of raising another boys’ basketball banner as the Mustangs advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III-A semifinals for the second straight year.

The last time it was the Sea Kings cutting West Valley’s title-run short en route to winning their first under Coach Ryan Schachter.

This time CdM ran into a wall, 6-foot-8, 285-pound junior Joseph Burton, before getting a shot to defend its section crown and winning the program’s sixth in school history.

No back-to-back titles for the Sea Kings (21-8). Burton stood in the way, scoring 17 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and coming away with four steals and two blocks.

“We had motivation,” said Burton, who is being recruited by UCLA, Florida, Illinois, USC and Villanova. “After we lost last year [67-61 to CdM], the goal was to come back and hopefully meet the Sea Kings again and get payback.”

West Valley (23-3) did just that, making the necessary plays down the stretch to advance to Friday’s semifinal game against last year’s runner-up, No. 1 Renaissance Academy (24-2) of La Canada.

This contest was tight throughout, no team jumping out to a double-digit lead. Burton would force his way into the paint and score. Then there was CdM’s 6-9 senior center Stefan Kaluz answering with a long jumper.

The Brown University-bound Kaluz led everyone with 23 points and it appeared he was going to help the Sea Kings get past West Valley again. CdM was five minutes away from another date with Renaissance Academy.

Senior Erik Rask, the point guard that missed last year’s thrilling season because of a knee injury, converted a reverse layup, blowing past an athletic defense and Burton. Rask, who finished with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists, gave CdM a 44-39 lead.

But after that, CdM senior forward Joe Eberhard said it best.

“We had that game,” said Eberhard, who finished with 12 points. “I don’t even know what happened.”

The Mustangs began delivering the kind of crucial plays the Sea Kings did last year, hitting the big three-pointer. Twice they did, as guards John Balwigaire and Eric Lawton connected on shots one-minute apart, giving West Valley the lead for good at 47-45 with 3:35 left.

Schachter understood what his Sea Kings were up against, another challenge. So many this year, like having to play a demanding nonleague schedule that included games against state-ranked powers Etiwanda and Santa Margarita.

But what West Valley pulled off at the end truly shocked Schachter.

“They made free throws,” said the second-year CdM coach as the Mustangs hit 10 of 10, excluding Kris Brooks’ last two misses from the line with 10 seconds remaining.

By then, it didn’t matter. Eberhard recognized the difference, even if he lost his right contact lens in the opening quarter.

“They out-hustled us,” he said.

Time and time again the Mustangs went after the loose balls, jumping to get them resulting in 20 offensive rebounds, or diving for them with no fear.

Even the biggest man on the court was relentless in his pursuit of the ball during the Mustangs’ 12-1 run that gave them a 51-45 advantage with 61 seconds left. Burton came up with a steal before heading out of bounds. He threw it back on the court, so either Lawton or Balwigaire could take care of the ball.

The backcourt mates did an admiral job, as Lawton scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth and Balwigaire seven of his 10 points.

“I don’t mean to take nothing away from [the Sea Kings], they deserve everything they have accomplished. But this is something new in our community,” Peebles said of being one game away from playing in the section final. “We’re growing. We’re trying to establish [what CdM has]. We don’t have the beach five minutes away, we have to drive really far.

“We got our work cut out [against Renaissance Academy]. We’re going to throw everything we got. I might even have to bring something from home to throw.”

Don’t be surprised if Peebles brings that blue suede sports coat with him.

CIF Southern Section Division III-A Quarterfinals West Valley 55, Corona del Mar 50

SCORE BY QUARTERS

WV – Burton 17, Brooks 13, Lawton 11, Balwigaire 10, Downs 4.

3-pt. goals – Lawton 1, Balwigaire 1.

CdM – Kaluz 23, Eberhard 12, E. Rask 8, Brakeville 5, Ragsdale 2.

3-pt. goals – Eberhard 1, Brakeville 1.

Fouled out – Ragsdale.

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