CdM needs at-large

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IRVINE — Coach Mark Decker still firmly believes his Corona del Mar girls’ basketball team will make the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs.

If that’s true, the Sea Kings will have a lot to work on before said playoffs start next week.

Corona del Mar fell to Irvine, 57-37, on Friday night at Irvine High in a game that determined the third and final guaranteed playoff spot from the Pacific Coast League.

The teams split their two head-to-head meetings and both finished 3-5 in league, making the tiebreaker game necessary.

Corona del Mar now must apply for an at-large bid. The team’s résumé looks good, with an 18-9 record and a No. 15 ranking in Division IV-AA, although the third spot in league the Vaqueros got may earn them a more desirable first-round opponent.

“We’re expecting to get in,” Decker said. “I’m sure [Friday night’s loss] probably doesn’t help [CdM’s draw]. Nothing we can do now.”

What Irvine (14-10) did was pressure Corona del Mar all night, creating turnovers and easy chances. A 20-point margin wasn’t expected after the first two games were close, CdM winning, 42-41, on Jan. 13 and Irvine winning, 58-52, on Jan. 29.

But Decker said the turnovers hurt his club this time around.

The Vaqueros opened the game on a 10-2 run, but CdM responded with a 13-1 burst, capped by a three-pointer from sophomore Ellie Nadal, that gave the Sea Kings a 15-11 lead after a quarter.

The second and third quarters were totally different stories, though.

“[Irvine] probably had at least 20 points off turnovers,” said Decker, formerly the boys’ coach at Irvine. “I think some inexperience showed for us ... We made a great run at the end of the first quarter, then we come out at the beginning of the second and it’s turnover, turnover.”

Up by eight at halftime, the Vaqueros continued extending their lead in the second half. It reached as much as 23, at 54-31, midway through the fourth quarter.

Irvine junior forward Kristan Liddle owned the paint, finishing with 15 points, 17 rebounds, four steals and four blocks. Her hustle also hurt the Sea Kings on numerous occasions.

In the third quarter, it was Liddle taking a jumper just inside the three-point line, missing it but outrunning three CdM players to the ball and getting fouled. Early in the fourth quarter, it was Liddle missing a pair of free throws but still getting the long rebound.

But what might have been more unexpected for CdM was Irvine senior guard Gabrielle Nelson, who had four three-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 14 points.

“We knew what we had to do to execute,” Liddle said. “It was a good team effort. All the people hit their roles.”

Sophomore guard Kayla Marolt was right at her season average of 15 points for CdM, and junior forward Katie Bergsma added eight points and 11 rebounds.

The Sea Kings will learn of their fate on Sunday, when the Division IV-AA brackets are released at approximately 2 p.m. CdM, vastly improved from an 0-8 league showing a year ago, is trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Pacific Coast League playoff

Irvine 57, Corona del Mar 37

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM – Marolt 15, Bergsma 8, Rhyme 4, Nadal 3, Scrhoff 3, Sharp 2, Rapp 1, Brahs 1.

3-pt. goals – Nadal 1, Schroff 1.

Fouled out – None.

Irv – Liddle 15, Nelsen 14, Thawley 8, Washington 8, Callian 7, Benitani 2, Ballard 2, Akiyama 1.

3-pt. goals – Nelsen 4, Callian 1.

Fouled out – None.