NEWPORT BEACH – The opponent’s zone was shredded. The defensive matchups followed. And the free throws in the fourth quarter made.
Corona del Mar’s No. 2-seeded boys basketball team accomplished each with precision Friday night to defeat visiting Tahquitz of Hemet, 57-50, in the CIF-SS Division 3A semifinals and reach their first section final since 2007.
“We talked all year about what it takes to be a champion,” Corona del Mar coach Ryan Schachter said. “We still got one more game to go. … Hopefully, we enjoy it.”
Junior Matt Ctvrtlik came off the bench to score a season-high 24 points, including a season-best four 3-pointers, to pace the Sea Kings, who play top-seeded Beverly Hills next week in the finals.
Corona del Mar (24-6) sank 10 3-pointers, mostly against the Titans’ 2-3 zone. Tahquitz (25-5), playing in its first semifinal, switched briefly in the second half to 1-3-1 zone and man defenses but it didn’t matter as the Sea Kings built a 15-point lead and held on.
Point guard Bo St. Geme (13 points) and guard Sam Kobrine (11 points) each made three 3-pointers to help CdM finish 10 for 23 beyond the arc).
“It’s been a while since we carved up a zone,” Schachter said. “(Ctvrtlik) has got to be one of the best sixth men in the county. … (We had) patience, passing and we hit some shots.”
But shooting was just one component for Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings also held Tahquitz to 24 points entering the fourth quarter. The Titans’ offense finally got going in the fourth but they never got closer than seven points.
Corona del Mar assigned Kevin Fults and Ryan Moss to bracket Southern Utah commit Nicholas Pete, a 6-foot-8 forward who had 2 points on only three shots in the first three quarters. Pete finished with 10 points, including a two-handed slam in the fourth.
Tahquitz coach Brad Smith said Corona del Mar effectively dropped off one of his players, using that defender to help with Pete. The Titans’ perimeter attack struggled. They made 3 of their first 11 3-pointers.
“(Schachter) does a great job scouting,” said Smith, a former assistant at JSerra. “And they made shots.”
Corona del Mar certainly made its shots from the foul line. The Sea Kings made 16 of 21 attempts in the fourth as the Titans fouled to stop the clock. Ctvrtlik made 10 of 12 free throws, including a few after taking a hard foul late in the fourth. “We were on tonight,” St. Geme said. “It was fun to be part of.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
