CdM stuffs Vaqueros

CORONA DEL MAR — When it was time to introduce Danny Cheek at Corona del Mar High, the public address announcer called him “Danny Creek.”

Rather than correct the error, Cheek ignored it.

He actually lived up to the new name in the first half of Wednesday night’s Pacific Coast League game against Irvine.

The sophomore drained so many shots in a row that he made defenders look like they were defending him in a creek.

Cheek proved to be unstoppable, drilling seven of eight shots to give him 15 points at halftime.

The rest of the way, the Sea Kings didn’t need Cheek to score as much as they pulled away for a 62-49 victory to remain undefeated in league play.

Coach Ryan Schachter is willing to cut the announcer some slack for getting Cheek’s name wrong.

“It’s his first game of the year,” Schachter said of Brent Ogden, a CdM graduate, calling a game. “Danny played really well. I hope [Ogden remembers him].

“[If not], he’s got three years to remember him.”

With the type of performance Cheek delivered, it will be hard for anyone to forget his name.

Cheek finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Schachter called it his best all-around game at CdM (9-8, 2-0 in league) since transferring from Mater Dei.

The second quarter in which Cheek converted each of his five shots is also one of the best quarters Schachter’s seen this season from any player.

“A great game,” Schachter said. “Not only just scoring, but defensively, he was great, really active on the boards.”

Schachter is counting on the 6-foot-2 versatile player to continue his stellar play.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 13 in the recent CIF Southern Section Division III-A coaches’ poll, continue their league title defense Friday at University (11-5, 1-0), No. 11 in Division II-A.

The victory against Irvine (8-9, 1-1) makes it 16 straight league victories for the Sea Kings dating back to Schachter’s first season at CdM in 2006-07.

Under Schachter, only once has CdM dropped a league contest, a one-point loss at Laguna Hills on Jan. 12, 2007.

The game at University might be just as close. The two programs are favorites to claim the league crown and are the only two unbeaten teams in league.

Add in that University is Schachter’s alma mater, it makes for an interesting meeting.

“It’s our third year going back there, so that part is a little gone,” Schachter said of the emotional factor coaching against Mike Dinneen, the coach he played for at University before graduating in 1996. “They’re much improved from last year and we’re trying to get back to where we were.

“This year everyone is gunning for us. We got a huge target on our chest because we’ve been beating teams, and not only that, we’re not as [dominant] as we have been [during our last two league championship seasons]. Teams really want to get us.”

The Vaqueros came out with upset on their minds.

Guard Kent Hyodo finished with 13 points and Irvine kept pace, much of it due to holding CdM’s leading scorer, Sean Donovan, to five points in the first half.

At halftime, Irvine trailed, 28-23, a score Coach Kris Klamberg was happy about.

On the other side, Schachter was as well.

“I was [teasing Donovan] at halftime,” Schachter said. “I said, ‘Look Sean, you’re two for 13 in the first half. You can’t shoot worse. We’re up by five, so we’re in good shape.’ ”

When Donovan got his chance in the third quarter, the senior immediately put the Sea Kings in a much better place.

Eleven seconds into the quarter Donovan drove toward the baseline to convert a reverse layup. Forty-eight seconds later, he nailed a three-pointer.

Donovan wasn’t finished, hitting another three-pointer, one of his five in the game.

He poured in 11 of his game-high 24 points in the third, giving the Sea Kings a 48-31 lead.

“[In the first half] he missed a lot [of easy shots], which he normally makes,” said Schachter of Donovan, who was defended by Irvine forward Nehemiah Jones.

When asked whether Jones’ 6-6 size created problems for Donovan early on, Schachter quickly dismissed the notion.

“He didn’t seem to create too many problems in the second half,” said Schachter, who in the final 16 minutes saw Donovan make seven of nine field goals, including his last four three-point attempts.

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 62, Irvine 49

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Irv – Hyodo 13, Jones 9, Sergeyev 8, Burgoyne 6, Lambeth 6, Lewis 4, Verrill 2, Kim 1.

3-pt. goals – Lambeth 2, Burgoyne 2, Jones 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

CdM – Donovan 24, Cheek 17, Gallian 10, P. Stone 5, Jones 2, Quon 2, N. Freeman 2.

3-pt. goals – Donovan 5, P. Stone 1, Cheek 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

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