Sea Kings rock Calvary

WESTMINSTER — Though conventional wisdom dictates that one can’t get water from a stone, senior Parker Stone continues to provide the Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball team with his own brand of ice.

Stone, nicknamed “Ice Man” by his teammates earlier this season — a tribute to his prowess as a perimeter shooter — made two three-pointers within a 27-second span to account for a big chunk of a 14-0 third-quarter run that propelled the Sea Kings to a 66-46 win over Calvary Chapel in the title game of the Orange Optimist tournament Saturday at Westminster High.

Stone, who finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals, was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Junior Danny Cheek had 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second and third quarters to earn all-tournament honors.

And CdM Coach Ryan Schachter also singled out five reserves who helped turn things around after Calvary (4-5) seized a 13-6 lead through one period.

“Parker Stone usually gets us going with three-point shots,” Schachter said. “He’s the Ice Man as the kids call him.”

Cheek, who also had a three-pointer, did most of his damage much closer to the rim. He made four of five field-goal attempts to produce 11 second-quarter points, helping the Sea Kings (6-2) close to within 28-27 at halftime.

“[Cheek] had a great last three games of the tournament,” Schachter said. “He really picked it up and attacked the rim. He’s starting to understand what we want from him. And when he goes to the rim, he’s unstoppable.”

It was a start the Sea Kings needed, however, when Schachter began yanking starters after the first eight minutes.

“I thought our bench got us going,” Schachter said of seniors Austin Quon and Jamie Heinecke, juniors Chris Freeman and Ramon Mejia, as well as sophomore Andrew McCormack. “Those guys came in with a lot of energy. I thought the bench was the key to this win and it was great to see that.”

Heinecke and Freeman both collected eight points, while Mejia added seven. Heinecke, Freeman and McCormack combined to make all seven of their field-goal attempts and collectively chipped in seven rebounds.

Mejia’s 16-foot jumper capped the aforementioned 14-0 burst that turned a 31-30 deficit into a lead from which the Eagles could not recover.

In a span of nearly seven minutes from late in the first half to 1:50 remaining in the third quarter, Calvary managed just one field goal, as CdM turned up its defensive intensity.

After shooting 50% in the first half, the Eagles were just seven of 23 from the field (30.4%) after the break.

“During the four games of this tournament, our [defensive pressure] has come in waves,” Schachter said. “That’s what we want to do: pick up fullcourt and press, and just convert turnovers as quickly as we can.”

CdM center Spencer Haly had nine points, while junior guards Dillon Campbell and Clayton Ragsdale had five and four assists, respectively.

Schachter said Ragsdale suffered a hamstring injury that severely limited his effectiveness.

CdM, after making three of 14 field-goal tries in the first quarter (21.4%) and going one for 10 from three-point range in the first half, made 22 of 40 from the field in the final three quarters (55%).

“When we lock down on defense, it just opens up everything, because we can run and that’s our game,” Stone said. “The bench came in and got us right back in the game and this whole tournament, we’ve been a second-half team.”

CdM, ranked No. 15 in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A preseason poll, visits No. 5-ranked Foothill Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Orange Optimist Tournament

Final

Corona del Mar 66,

Calvary Chapel 46

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM – Cheek 21, Stone 10, Haly 9, Heinecke 8, Freeman 8, Mejia 7, McCormack 2, Campbell 1.

3-pt. goals – Stone 2, Freeman 2, Cheek 1, Mejia 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

CC – Schick 12, Koustik 11, Jeranko 8, Frenze 7, Weisman 3, Gomez 3, Spera 2.

3-pt. goals – Frenze 1, Gomez 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.