High Schools:

In the weeks leading up to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game, Cecil Whiteside craved one thing.

“I want to hit someone again,” Whiteside said.

Seven weeks removed from his last contest with the Newport Harbor High football team, Whiteside showed on national TV Saturday how ferocious he is on the field.

The UC Berkeley-bound senior linebacker delivered one of the loudest hits while helping the West beat the East, 30-13, in San Antonio, Texas. Whiteside’s uncle, Craig Brown, said the tackle, that came in the fourth quarter, earned Whiteside the biggest hit award.

Whiteside, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Player of the Year, also received one of the event’s five game balls after making five tackles. Whiteside, ranked as the No. 38th prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, was able to compete against many of the country’s top seniors.

The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Whiteside was the lone player from Orange County invited to the all-star game. He made the most of the opportunity. Only one other player finished with more tackles than Whiteside.

 Coach Ryan Schachter has the Corona del Mar boys’ basketball team off to its best start in his four seasons at the school.

The Sea Kings are 13-3, 2-0 in Pacific Coast League play. In league, CdM is winning by an average of 28 points per game.

Schachter isn’t calling CdM, ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A coaches’ poll, the league frontrunner just yet. The Sea Kings appear as if they’re the favorites to return to the top after finishing in second place last season.

“We’re playing well, but we could do a lot better,” said Schachter, who guided CdM to back-to-back league titles in his first two seasons. “I’ve got to find a way to get us to that next step.”

The Sea Kings will try to stay perfect in the PCL when they face University Friday at 7 p.m at CdM.

 The impressive eight-match unbeaten streak by the Estancia boys’ soccer team hit a bump Wednesday.

The Eagles lost at Godinez, 5-1, marking the end of their 7-0-1 run.

In Orange Coast League play, Estancia (1-1) trails rival Costa Mesa (2-0-1) in the standings. The Mustangs are trying to end the Eagles’ supremacy in league. They’ll meet Jan. 22 at 4:45 p.m at Jim Scott Stadium.

 As the CdM girls’ soccer team makes a second straight run at a Pacific Coast League title, the Sea Kings will be without an integral part for one match.

Goalkeeper Sarah Cox will miss the league contest at San Juan Hills Tuesday. Coach Bryan Middleton said the up-and-coming sophomore plans to leave Friday for Phoenix, Ariz., where Cox will compete at the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Region IV Championships from Saturday to Tuesday.

“I need to get Savannah [Vaughn] time in the goal to make sure she’s ready to go for Tuesday’s game,” Middleton said after inserting Vaughn in the second half of CdM’s 4-0 league victory against Irvine last Tuesday.

Middleton said he plans to play Vaughn again in today’s home match against University at 3:15 p.m.

The Sea Kings (7-6-3, 1-1-0 in league) and Trojans shared the league championship last season. CdM is ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Division II coaches’ poll.

“You only get better if you play with the best and that’s what she’s doing,” Middleton said.

 CdM seniors Lauren Smits and Ashleigh Smith have committed to play women’s soccer at Williams College and Colgate University, respectively, next season.

Smits, a defender, earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League and third-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II honors last season.

Smith hasn’t played for CdM this season. Middleton said the midfielder is out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered before the high school season while playing club.