Boys’ Basketball: Kobrine leads CdM
WESTMINSTER — Coach Ryan Schachter says it is time to stop referring to Kevin Kobrine as Sam Kobrine’s brother.
Kevin is starting to make a name for himself with the Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball team.
The junior led the Sea Kings in scoring for the second time in as many nights during the Charlie Wilkins Memorial Tournament, finishing with 22 points in CdM’s 59-41 win against Yorba Linda at Westminster High on Tuesday.
The Sea Kings improved to 2-0 during pool-play action, and Kobrine’s has been a big reason for the success. The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 22.5 points during the tournament.
Kevin’s older brother, Sam, came and watched him perform. Kevin is producing at the same tournament Sam played well in last season as a senior.
Schachter hopes Kevin continues to play at a high level, all the way to helping CdM defend its tournament title.
“He’s looked good the last two games,” Schachter said. “He does some good things, and then he sometimes kind of gets lost in the moment. For him, it’s just learning how to keep his mental focus.”
Kobrine looked unfazed, even when Yorba Linda fouled him. He finished three times while a defender pulled or pushed him in the act of shooting.
Kobrine completed three three-point plays at the free-throw line. He also was perfect from the line, making all of his nine foul shots.
As a team, CdM converted 11 of 11 free throws.
The Sea Kings (5-2) have bounced back since losing the fifth-place game at their own Beach Bash tournament last Saturday. They let a 34-19 lead get away, as Long Beach Jordan opened the second half making its first five shots, all from behind the arc, en route to a 72-60 victory.
The Sea Kings didn’t let Yorba Linda (4-4) come back in the third quarter. They outscored the Mustangs, 12-2, in the first eight minutes to take a 40-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
DJ Rodman gave CdM some breathing room in the third quarter. The sophomore started cold, missing his first seven shots in the third, and then he scored seven straight points during a 53-second span late in the quarter.
“I just kept shooting. I just kept sticking to my game. I didn’t give up,” said Rodman, who attacked the basket. “[Schachter] doesn’t want me to lay back. He just wants me to keep going to the hole. He wants me to score.”
Rodman finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and he and Kobrine combined to outscore the Mustangs.
No Yorba Linda player reached double figures, and as a team, it shot 34% from the field. Garrett Freund led the Mustangs with eight points.
“That was a good Yorba Linda team. They beat Northwood at [the] Godinez [tournament on Dec. 3] by like 12,” said Schachter, whose Sea Kings last season shared second place in the Pacific Coast League, finishing behind first-place Northwood. “It’s great to see us respond.”
Next for CdM is a pool-play game against Los Angeles Animo Robinson on Thursday. A win here and the Sea Kings will have Buena Park on Friday, with the winner advancing into the championship bracket.
The Sea Kings like their chances of repeating as tournament champions.
“I feel very confident about that,” Rodman said.
Charlie Wilkins Memorial Tournament
Pool play
Corona del Mar 59, Yorba Linda 41
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Yorba Linda 11 – 14 – 2 – 14 — 41
Corona del Mar 17 – 11 – 12 – 19— 59
YL – Freund 8, Maeder 7, Coleman 6, Miller 5, Jacobs 4, Whitehead 4, Lathon 3, Anand 2, Irwin 2.
3-pt. goals – Maeder 1, Lathon 1, Freund 1, Miller 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
CdM – Kobrine 22, Rodman 20, Humphreys 6, Schwartz 5, Hatch 4, Coffman 2.
3-pt. goals – Rodman 2, Humphreys 2, Schwartz 1, Kobrine 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
