DAILY PILOT BOYS’ BASKETBALL DREAM TEAM:

Corona del Mar High missed out on its third straight Pacific Coast League championship.

A month after the boys’ basketball season, Coach Ryan Schachter said he was OK with falling short of the three-peat.

“We had our run for two years and it was University’s this year,” said Schachter, whose team shared second place, behind his alma mater.

Here’s another reason Schachter can take some comfort in CdM (13-14, 5-3 in league) finishing second.

The Sea Kings nabbed the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year award for the third straight time under Schachter’s watch.

Sean Donovan earns the top honor. The senior turned into a prolific scorer, at times unstoppable with his 6-foot-4 frame and ability to drive and pull up from anywhere on the court and make a shot.

The guard-forward averaged 20 points per game, best in the area, and six rebounds and four assists. In the season opener, Donovan came out firing, finishing with 36 points and becoming the Sea Kings’ new star.

The previous two seasons, it was center Stefan Kaluz, who won the Dream Team Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons before going to Brown University.

Unlike the 6-9 Kaluz, Donovan finished short in one category — back-to-back league titles. Donovan, a first-team all-league pick, is the first to let you know he’d trade in a scoring title for a league title.

The season began strong, Donovan finding his stroke and playing with two new transfers from Mater Dei, including Danny Cheek, a Dream Team member.

The Sea Kings played .500 basketball until league began. For a moment, they looked strong, like the Sea Kings of the past two seasons.

CdM won the first two league games by double digits. The streak continued, 16 straight victories in league dating back to Schachter’s first season in 2006-07, the championship season.

No championship of any kind this season. University ended the Sea Kings’ streak, their title run.

Donovan showed up in both close losses, finishing with 22 points in the first and 24 in the last.

With one regular-season game left, the last loss at home stopped the Sea Kings from defending their championship.

“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt,” Donovan said on Feb. 4.

This award might ease the pain.

Here’s a look at the rest of the honorees:

MIKEY MOLINA

Costa Mesa

Senior guard sparked the Mustangs’ dramatic change, going from a one-win team to a playoff team. Molina averaged 15.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and two steals per game and shot 45% from the floor. Costa Mesa won nine more games than the 2007-08 team, which went 1-26, the program’s worst record in school history. Molina scored 15 points in a 52-48 victory against cross-town rival Estancia in a league playoff game determining the league’s No. 2 playoff entry. He earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

DANNY CHEEK

Corona del Mar

Sophomore guard transferred from Mater Dei to start on varsity with the Sea Kings, the area’s best team. The 6-foot-2 Cheek averaged 13 points, five rebounds and three steals per game. Cheek has the potential to be the top local player next season due to being able to score anywhere on the court, rebounding and defensive abilities, and sheer athleticism. One of his best games came against Irvine, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. He earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.

CHRIS ANDERSON

Newport Harbor

Junior guard played on a team with not much talent, making it easy for teams to defend him. Anderson averaged 11 points and three assists per game. He scored a game-high 16 points in the Battle of the Bay, keeping the Sailors in the game until CdM pulled away late. He made the Irvine World News All-Tournament Team after leading the Sailors to two victories in December. Newport Harbor won one more game the rest of the season. He earned second-team All-Sunset League honors.

TIM NEUMANN

Estancia

Senior forward was the heart and soul of the Eagles and considered one of the area’s top defenders. Neumann averaged 10.8 points, four rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Best all-around performance came during a 64-59 victory against Calvary Chapel, finishing with 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and three three-pointers, and eight for eight from the free-throw line. Neumann led the Eagles to the playoffs for the second straight year under Coach Agustin Heredia. He earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

STEVEN GALLIAN

Corona del Mar

Senior center had some big shoes to fill in the middle with Stefan Kaluz lost to graduation. Gallian averaged close to a double-double, 10 points and nine rebounds per game. He played well despite having an injured left ankle during Pacific Coast League play. Against University, the league champion, he scored a season-high 19 points. He is headed to play at Maryville University, a NCAA Division II program in St. Louis, Mo. He earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.