Boys basketball: CdM falls in tourney opener

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Sometimes, patience and understanding gives way to a

good, old-fashioned trip to the shed. Just ask the Corona del Mar High

boys basketball team, following Tuesday night’s 85-35 pool-play loss to

El Dorado at the Coast Christmas Classic at Estancia High.

“I chewed them (the CdM players) out a little bit at halftime,” CdM

Coach Paul Orris said. “It’s one thing to be patient, but when the team

isn’t executing the offense properly, that’s a different story.”

The Hawks, ranked No. 5 in Orange County and coming off a tough loss

to Brea-Olinda, turned on the jets early and controlled the contest from

the opening tip.

“We knew coming in that we had some matchup problems,” Orris said.

“We’ve played some decent competition during this nonleague part of our

season.”

Six-foot, eight-inch David Patten took advantage of the Hawks’ size

advantage and scored 20 points to lead all scorers.

While Patten ruled the inside for the Hawks (10-2), Kyle Miller

controlled the outside, hitting four three-pointers during his 18-point

performance.

Eric Snell led the Sea Kings (2-8) with eight points, while Idean

Shahangian chipped in with six points and Eric Glass added five.

“I’m just going to have to try and stay patient,” Orris said. “We just

have to push this game aside and go after it next time.”

El Dorado took advantage of six first-quarter turnovers and used a

10-0 run to build a 21-5 advantage.

Strong play from Snell and Matt Marston helped the Sea Kings stay

withing eyesight of the Hawks, but Patten and Miller combined for 16 of

El Dorado’s 21 second-quarter points as the lead continued to swell.

The Hawks opened the second half with a 10-0 run to blow the game wide

open as the Sea Kings managed only three successful free throws for their

third-quarter point total.

Shahangian and Glass helped revive the CdM offense somewhat, but the

damage was already done.

Corona del Mar will play again in the Coast Christmas Classic on

Thursday against Glendale-based Hoover High at 2:30 p.m. at Estancia.

COAST CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Pool play

El Dorado 85, Corona del Mar 35

El Dorado 21 21 22 21 - 85 Corona del Mar 5 13 3 14 - 35

El Dorado - Patten 20, Miller 18, Lehnert 14, Wulff 11, Bull 8, Price 4, Cook 4, Gartner 4, Murdock 2.

3 pt. goals - Miller 4, Wulff 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technical fouls - Patten 1.

Corona del Mar - Snell 8, Shahangian 6, Glass 5, Alshuler 4, K.

Mancillas 4, Marston 4, Brewster 2, B. Mancillas 1, Grey 1, Reynolds 0.

3 pt. goals - Snell 1, K. Mancillas 1.

Fouled out - none.