Sea Kings win third straight

Rick Devereux

The Corona del Mar High girls basketball team was on a roll headed

into Thursday’s contest against visiting Laguna Beach.

The Sea Kings had won two in a row and three of their last four.

But the Breakers were even hotter, winning five of their last six

games. More importantly, Laguna Beach had a 3-1 record in the Pacific

Coast League, a one-game advantage over CdM’s 2-2 league record.

But it was Corona del Mar that kept the hot hand, winning 54-42,

and creeping closer and closer to the top record in the Pacific Coast

League. University High, which beat CdM last week, was leading the

league with 3-1 record but hosted Tesoro, which is 2-2, Thursday.

The fact Corona del Mar (11-10, 3-2 in league) is tied for second

in the league is cause for celebration, considering the team was

written off before the season even started. The loss drops Laguna

Beach to 10-10 and 3-2.

“We read somewhere that CdM is a long shot for the playoffs,” said

sophomore guard Shannon Johnson. “If we keep it up, we’re not just in

the playoffs, but we could win league.”

Johnson was a main contributor in the Sea Kings’ victory, matching

a season-high 14 points.

“She was huge for us tonight,” first-year coach Scott Kahawai

said. “She is someone I will look for step up.”

Johnson scored six points in the third quarter to help CdM break

the game open following a strong Laguna Beach comeback.

The Sea Kings opened up a 7-2 lead after the first quarter. The

Breakers were held scoreless for the first seven minutes and 40

seconds, finally getting on the scoreboard on two Brittany Clark free

throws. But Laguna Beach improved their play in the second quarter,

taking a 14-13 lead with 3:01 left in the half.

Sophomore guard Allie Duernberger answered with a three-pointer

from the corner that gave CdM a 16-14 lead. The Sea Kings would never

trail after that.

The Breakers scored four quick points off of turnovers to end the

half, which gave Laguna Beach the momentum and cut into Corona del

Mar’s lead, making it 21-18.

But Johnson and the rest of the CdM team came out of the

intermission and went on an 18-4 run to give the Sea Kings a 39-22

lead.

Senior captain Katie Schulte also contributed eight points in the

third. She finished with a team-high 15 points.

“Coach told us we can’t let go,” she said. “I was definitely

worried [Laguna Beach would come back], but we stuck with our game

plan.”

Schulte was also responsible for guarding Laguna’s top player

Claire Bevacqua, who averages more than 15 points per game. Bevacqua,

listed at 5-foot-10, scored a game-high 19 points but fouled out with

three minutes left in the game.

The 5-8 Schulte held her own, despite the size difference.

“[Schulte] has developed a high basketball IQ over the past two

years,” Kahawai said. “The game slows down for her to where she can

anticipate what is going to happen next. She is able to make

adjustments mentally. That’s why she is such a good player.”

Bevacqua was one of three Breakers to foul out, but it did not

result in a decided free throw advantage for CdM. The Sea Kings

connected on 15 of 27 (55.6%) while Laguna Beach was 10 of 27 for

37%.

CdM plays at Tesoro Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 54,

Laguna Beach 42

Score by Quarters

*--*

Laguna Beach 2 16 5 19 -- 42

Corona del Mar 7 14 18 15 -- 54

*--*

Laguna Beach -- Clarck 15, Ventura 6, Larose 2, Bevacaqua 19, Cox

0, Hairston 0, Avila 0, Kelly 0, Delgado 0.

3-pt. goals -- None.

Fouled out -- Hariston, Ventura, Bevacqua.

Technicals -- Larose.

Corona del Mar -- K. Wayte 7, Johnson 14, Schulte 15, Duernberger

8, Long 6, Benbow 2, A. Wayte 0, Wadhwa 0, Marks 2.

3-pt. goals -- Duernberger 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.