CdM is money against Sailors

NEWPORT BEACH — On the night Corona del Mar High retired its first basketball jersey, two Sea Kings delivered like “Money Man” John Vallely used to back in his heyday.

Austin Evett and Susan Moheimani were simply money for the CdM boys’ and girls’ teams Thursday night.

The guards did it late against rival Newport Harbor in their respective Battle of the Bay games, as the boys won, 53-46, and the girls, 44-42, allowing Vallely to comfortably reminisce of his playing days inside CdM’s gym.

Vallely’s first big shots came at CdM, before graduating in 1966 and going on to star at Orange Coast College and then UCLA.

“It’s always better to win when you do something like this,” said first-year CdM boys’ coach Ryan Schachter. “Honoring John was huge.”

Evett and Moheimani did their best to make No. 21 proud.

Vallely was around to first see the girls’ hang on and improve to 2-0 under first-year CdM Coach Mark Decker. Moheimani sank two free throws with 13 seconds left to give CdM a 44-41 lead, bringing a smile to Vallely’s face because he was also clutch at the free-throw line.

During his time at UCLA as a guard, Vallely led the nation in free-throw percentage in his senior year in 1969-70.

Then the boys’ game started, and after CdM jumped out to a 27-22 lead at halftime, the Sea Kings honored Vallely. The most poignant words came during a video tribute to Vallely by his former coach, the legendary John Wooden. He called Vallely “a fine outside shooter” and “one of the finest” players he coached.

Big praise from Wooden, considered the best college basketball coach. He won a record 10 NCAA championships at UCLA.

Two of those Vallely, 58, helped win. Vallely also inspired a bunch of CdM teenagers after his acceptance speech, which focused on what Wooden instilled in him.

“It was all about becoming a successful person,” said Vallely, a member of UCLA’s Hall of Fame. “It was never about winning or losing.”

The Sea Kings followed Vallely’s advice in the third quarter. They played with ease, not getting caught up in the rivalry, to go ahead of Newport Harbor by as many as 15 points in the season opener for both schools.

But then the Sailors responded, rallying behind center Kyle Caldwell, who scored six of his game-high 20 points in the fourth.

Newport Harbor cut the deficit to 47-45, but then came the biggest shot of the night.

With the 35-second shot clock expiring, Evett launched a three-pointer with 54 seconds remaining. It went in and put the Sea Kings up for good, 50-45.

“We were just swinging it around, and coach was yelling,” said Evett, who finished with 16 points on six-for-nine shooting. “I saw the clock running down. I just tossed it up and prayed.

“It was luck.”

Not only was Evett lucky Thursday, but also Vallely said he felt the same way. He’s been battling cancer this year.

“It’s a great honor to be honored by my school, and to be the first one is wonderful,” said Vallely, who was drafted in the NBA by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round in 1970. “They were able to overlook some of the faults of my past and recognize some of the good things that happened.”

The Sea Kings reminded the “Money Man” how much he’s worth.

Boys

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 53,

Newport Harbor 46

Score by Quarters

Newport 11 11 6 18 — 46 Corona del Mar 17 10 16 10 — 53

Newport Harbor -- Caldwell 20, Stassel 10, Dunlap 6, Nigro 3, Kuhns 3, Holmes 2, Helfrich 2.

3-pt. goals -- Stassel 3, Kuhns 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Corona del Mar -- Evett 16, Kaluz 16, Donovan 7, Joyce 6, Anderson 4, Lane 2, Eberhard 2.

3-pt. goals -- Evett 2.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Girls

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 44,

Newport Harbor 42

Score by Quarters

Newport 8 12 9 13 — 42 Corona del Mar 12 10 5 17 — 44

Newport Harbor -- Nunnelly 13, Anderson 7, O’Tousa 5, Mello 5, Schnieders 4, Deyan 4, McLeish 2, Hohl 2.

3-pt. goals -- Nunnelly 2.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Corona del Mar -- Duernberger 15, Kirby 14, Moheimani 6, Abrudan 5, Stern 2.

3-pt. goals -- Duernberger 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.