CdM team moves on to state finals

The Corona del Mar 11s AYSO Plus program boys’ soccer team is one of four teams selected from the state to compete in the state championships in Palm Springs next month.

The team features the best 11-year old soccer players from the Corona del Mar AYSO league. During the fall, they had a 10-2 record and lost in the finals of the conference tournament to last year’s state champion.

The CdM team will have the opportunity to avenge that loss in the state tournament. The team, coached by Chris Dunk, has been together for just one year and has blossomed into a powerful squad.

The offense is led by Sallar Tahbaz, Max Dunk, Niko Urban, Zack Karro and Jack Elliot. Great midfield play by Joshua Means, Jackson Niedermeyer and Cam Kayl enabled the team to control the action in most games.

The defense gave up the second-fewest goals of any team in league play. Outstanding play from center backs Matt Katz and Dayne Parsons, along with outside backs Ryan Aleman, Kyle Pham and Grayson Breeland, enabled goalie Shawn Nielsen to record five shutouts.

The team is looking forward to competing against 12-year-old boys in the Spring Select league, as well as playing in many club league tournaments this summer.

— Reader submission

*

CdM team improves to 3-0

The Corona del Mar Middle School seventh-grade boys’ basketball team improved to 3-0 with wins over TeWinkle (43-14), Ensign (54-35) and Dwyer (49-32) last week.

The Seaweeds were led in scoring by Fritz Miller (9.0 points per game), Jake Pearson (9.0 ppg), Jacob Jones (6.0 ppg), Mikey Ruiz (6.0 ppg), Tyler Flood (5.0 ppg), Kyle Hatch (4.0 ppg) and Mitch Haly (4.0 ppg).

They have held opponents to 27 points per game with stifling defense from Chase Garbers, Billy Shaw, Danny Rogers, Chase Grippo and Cameron Schank.

The team has averaged 15 steals per game and 15 assists, thanks to the stellar play of guards Cameron Kormos, Will Rodosky, Sachin Gokhale and Ryan Meckler.

CdM is coached by Scott Stucki and Malia Grippo.

— Reader submission

*

Tar Heels Improve To 9-0

The Newport-Mesa Tar Heels fifth-grade boys’ all-net team improved to 9-0 with two impressive wins last weekend over Chino Valley Team Jordan, 46-26, and Niguel Aliso Evolution, 51-24.

The Tar Heels were led by the all-around play of guards Luke Chelf (8.0 points per game, 2.5 steals per game), Jake Hamilton (10.0 ppg, 3.5 assists per game), Matt Olson (7.0 ppg, 2.0 spg) and Nico Dasca (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rebounds per game), while front-court players DJ Rodman (6.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Johnny King (10.0 rpg, 2.0 apg) and Sam Barela (3.0 ppg, 2.0 spg, 2.0 apg) manned the paint.

Adam Flood had another big game against Evolution, grabbing eight rebounds and stealing two passes, and Ethan Barnes (2.5 spg) and Mason Melcer (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) played shutdown defense against both teams.

— Reader submission