CdM falls short of reaching final
WESTMINSTER — Things got a little testy on the court and in the crowd during Corona del Mar High’s game with Buena Park on Friday.
So much was on the line — a trip to the finals of the Charlie Wilkins Memorial boys’ basketball tournament — that two parents jawed at each other.
As the third quarter began to wrap up, CdM holding onto a one-point lead, a father from each team got into a confrontation in the stands. The incident caused a delay to the start of the fourth quarter, as the dads had to be separated.
The Sea Kings tried to create their own separation on the court.
They were eight minutes away from getting a chance to defend their tournament title, but it would be Buena Park earning the right to play for its second tournament crown this month.
The Coyotes rallied late, scoring the last eight points to beat CdM, 52-47, and advance to the tournament final at Westminster High.
One of the parents involved in the verbal spat had the last word. His two sons, Cedric Dashiell II and Cameron Dashiell, came up big, keeping Buena Park’s perfect record intact.
Cedric, a senior, finished with nine points and 17 rebounds, while Cameron, a sophomore, added nine points. The younger brother also converted three of four free throws in the last 25 seconds to seal the Coyotes’ berth into the championship game.
“We talk about the same thing, that we’re going to keep preparing for league, and that means winning every tournament we go to,” said Buena Park Coach Damian Farmer, whose team won its own tournament, the Coyote Classic, on Dec. 3.
Fourteen days later, the Coyotes (9-0) have a chance to claim the Charlie Wilkins Memorial Tournament. By winning their pool, they get to face Laguna Beach on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The Coyotes made it the finale, despite a slow start. They fell behind by 10 points in the first quarter.
The opening quarter was all CdM (6-3), which saw point guard Ben Coffman score seven points and DJ Rodman and Mitch Haly contribute four points apiece. The problem for the Sea Kings was closing out the second, third and fourth quarters.
“I think we might have ended all three quarters with bad turnovers,” said CdM Coach Ryan Schachter, whose team plays Los Alamitos for third place on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. “You can’t have live-ball turnovers against them. They fly on every [chance].”
The Coyotes began to run up and down during a 62-second stretch in the third quarter, allowing them to get back in the game.
They went on an 8-0 run, half of the points belonged to Rocky Watkins. It was off a steal that Watkins tied the game at 32-32 midway through the third quarter.
The Sea Kings extended the lead back to five after two quick baskets off inbound plays. Jake Hamilton (10 points) knocked down a three-pointer and JT Schwartz drove in for two.
But in the final 41 seconds of the third quarter, Buena Park’s Robert Corner scored four straight points to trim CdM’s lead to 39-38.
Corner scored again, 59 seconds into the fourth. His putback gave Buena Park a 40-39 lead.
The next 3:43 featured three more lead changes, with the Sea Kings going up by three after a three-pointer by Rodman (14 points) and a free throw by Kevin Kobrine.
The Sea Kings led, 47-44, with 3:02 remaining. They never scored again and their lead vanished.
Corner hit a jumper, giving him 10 points, and then Watkins’ three-point play with 2:03 left put the Coyotes ahead, 49-47. Gianni Michael, who led the Coyotes with 13 points, and Watkins each came up with a key steal late to send Buena Park to the final.
“We just gave the … game away,” Schachter said. “We got really sloppy with the ball, a lot of bad turnovers. We had 18 turnovers in the game. They kind of speed you up and guys get a little shell-shocked, so hopefully we learn … from this.
“They’re just a little bit more physically and mentally tougher [than us].”
Charlie Wilkins Memorial Tournament
Pool play
Buena Park 52, Corona del Mar 47
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Corona del Mar 19 – 7 – 13 – 8 — 47
Buena Park 9 – 10 – 19 – 14— 52
CdM – Rodman 14, Hamilton 10, Kobrine 8, Coffman 7, Haly 4, Humphreys 2, Schwartz 2.
3-pt. goals – Rodman 2, Hamilton 2, Coffman 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
BP – Michael 13, Corner 10, Ce. Dashiell II 9, Ca. Dashiell 9, Watkins 9, Jones-Church 2.
3-pt. goals – None.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – Ca. Dashiell.
