CdM’s Eberhard now Joe Cool

On the basketball court, Joe Eberhard has experienced the feeling of being on fire, but this was ridiculous.

Last month, while the Corona del Mar High senior lay in bed suffering from upper respiratory virus, his body temperature shot up to 104 degrees. This time heating up took him out of the game.

Eberhard, who is second on the team with 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest, then had to deal with boredom, as he missed the Sea Kings’ final four regular-season games, the majority of that time spent sick, coughing in bed.

“The temperature was the worse part,” Eberhard said. “It was pretty tough to walk around. It was boring. I really didn’t watch TV. I just did nothing for three weeks.”

But Eberhard is back, trying to help the Sea Kings make another CIF Southern Section Division III-A title run.

Sure he admitted he was a bit winded during Corona del Mar’s 62-41 second-round win over Sultana of Hesperia Friday, but he said he should be 100% when the Sea Kings play tonight at 7:30 at CdM.

“I’m real excited for this game,” Eberhard said of the Sea Kings’ quarterfinal against West Valley of Hemet.

Eberhard scored 15 points against Sultana to help CdM (21-7), the No. 4 seed, advance. Even though he scored around his average, he was hardly himself.

“He looked tired,” CdM Coach Ryan Schachter said. “He hit his first two threes, but then he was a bit rusty. He was a little fatigued.”

Schachter is hoping he does get a 100% Eberhard tonight because he knows No. 5-seeded West Valley will be formidable with four players averaging double figures in points.

Junior Joseph Burton, a 6-8, 285-pound post player, leads the way, averaging 21.1 points, 16 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.6 blocks per game. Junior guard Eric Lawton averages 20.8 points.

The Sea Kings, the Pacific Coast League champions, are no strangers to the Mustangs (22-3), who will be seeking revenge. Last year, CdM beat West Valley, 67-61, in the semifinals.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” Schachter said. “We’re at home which is great. [Newport-Mesa District is on a one-week break], hopefully we’ll get a decent crowd.”

If people do come most of the eyes will sure to be set on the performances of the teams’ big men. Schachter has been impressed with Burton, saying he’s a player who could compete on the next level, “a Pac-10” type.

CdM’s big man, 6-9 senior center Stefan Kaluz, will do his best to offset Burton’s impact. Kaluz, who leads the Sea Kings with 17.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, did that last year. He scored a game-high 27 points to go with 12 rebounds and three blocks.

“Stefan did a really good job last year,” Schachter said. “Stefan had 27 points, 12 rebounds. That’s a monster game in the CIF semifinals. He had 21 shots attempts last year. I want him to get 21 again this year. Joe had 18 attempts. If he can do that again we’ll be in good shape.”

Tonight’s winner will play Friday at an alternate site, most likely against top-seeded Renaissance Academy, which plays at eighth-seeded Notre Dame of Riverside in the other semifinal. Last year, CdM beat Renaissance Academy, 67-59, for the CIF title.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].