Sea Kings upended

CORONA DEL MAR — Stars on the Corona del Mar High floor prevented balloons from reaching the gym’s ceiling.

The Sea Kings honored their seniors before a crucial Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball game Wednesday night. Two rows of balloons created an aisle for seniors to walk through with their families.

Once the loved ones left the court, the Sea Kings’ league championship hopes burst before the balloons.

University pulled out a 74-69 league victory and took sole possession of first place by knocking out the reigning champion.

The Sea Kings’ run appears to have ended after two straight league titles, a co-championship in 2007 and an outright crown last year.

“It would take a miracle,” CdM Coach Ryan Schachter said of his team’s chance to share the league crown.

The Sea Kings (12-13, 4-3 in league), ranked No. 16 in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A coaches’ poll, have one league game left in the regular season.

University (17-6, 5-1), ranked No. 7 in Division II-A, has two left. Schachter isn’t expecting his alma mater to lose two straight games before the playoffs.

These two teams met earlier, with the Trojans winning, 56-52. Schachter remained optimistic after CdM suffered its first league loss in its third game.

“We gave that one away,” Schachter admitted.

In the second meeting, University ripped it away from CdM.

Christian Scott crushed the Sea Kings with back-to-back hustle plays in the final 27 seconds. If the Trojans win out and claim their first league title since 2001, they’ll be thanking the sophomore guard, who scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.

With the game tied at 69-69, CdM forced guard Jad Itani left and into a difficult shot. He tried a layup, which went high, almost over the backboard before coming back into play.

For a second, CdM thought it gained control. Guard Austin Quon leaped in the air to get the ball underneath the basket, near the baseline. Then Scott ripped it out of Quon’s hands and quickly attacked the rim, making a shot while getting fouled.

A possible three-point play in the making.

In the previous three quarters, Schachter had seen 11 of those three-point plays hurt CdM, as University made 10 from behind the arc and converted one three-point play at the free-throw line.

Until Scott converted the three-point play at the free-throw line to give University a 72-69 lead, CdM defended against the three-pointer well in the final quarter.

Twenty-seven seconds remained, enough time for CdM to cut into the lead or tie it.

The Sea Kings weren’t able to give senior guard Sean Donovan, their leading scorer at 24 points, a shot on the following possession, or senior center Steven Gallian, who played superb and finished with 19 points despite playing on an injured left ankle.

Scott didn’t give CdM a chance.

He intercepted a pass near halfcourt and raced the other way for an easy layup, putting away the Sea Kings. In disdain, Schachter slammed his clipboard with 13 seconds left.

The third-year CdM coach knew this one was over. The league is now University’s to win.

“We took the driver’s seat,” said Scott, who added 10 rebounds to notch his 15th double-double this season.

When CdM had no answers for Jed Borovik (20 points), Ben Kwan (18 points) and Itani (19 points) in the first three quarters, as the three combined to bury 10 three-pointers, the Sea Kings forgot about Scott.

Scott recorded nine of the Trojans’ 11 points in the fourth. He recorded the biggest plays, the steals that led to points.

“He’s bigger, stronger,” said Schachter, whose team is stuck in third place in league, holding on to the league’s final guaranteed playoff berth. “Survival of the fittest.”

Pacific Coast League

University 74, Corona del Mar 69

SCORE BY QUARTERS

U – Borovik 20, Itani 19, Kwan 18, Scott 13, Curtis 2, McLaughlin 2.

3-pt. goals – Kwan 4, Borovik 4, Itani 2.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

CdM – Donovan 24, Gallian 19, Cheek 13, Quon 6, P. Stone 4, Jones 3.

3-pt. goals – Donovan 1.

Fouled out – None.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].