A CdM heartbreak

CORONA DEL MAR — With no more time, Stefan Kaluz still launched a game-winning attempt near half court.

Talk about a buzzer beater after time expired.

Kaluz stole the inbound pass for Corona del Mar High with one second left, and tried to dribble before hoisting a desperation shot to beat Northwood.

One referee held his arm up, indicating that it would’ve counted, but the game-winner didn’t come close and Northwood held on for a 63-62 nonleague road victory Wednesday night.

“If that had gone in, that would’ve been a pretty lucky break,” Kaluz said.

Kaluz already had received his biggest break with 5 minutes, 29 seconds remaining in the game. The player responsible for making the 6-foot-9 center work for all his 22 points fouled out.

Once 6-7, 217-pound Jessee Hazely disappeared, Kaluz’s game did, too, hurting CdM (9-6) chances to beat one of Orange County’s top programs.

The Sea Kings tried to abuse Northwood (10-6) without its biggest player, but they couldn’t. The one Northwood player CdM Coach Ryan Schachter didn’t expect to impact the game did.

Already contributing 13 points, Ricky Widden guarded Kaluz down the stretch. The player, giving up three inches, held Kaluz scoreless.

Widden didn’t allow Kaluz to set up deep inside, and when Kaluz did, Widden sent him to the line. Kaluz couldn’t take advantage, missing his last three free-throw attempts after making one after Hazely fouled out with 13 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

“That hurt us, and if we want to beat a team like Northwood, one of the top teams in the county, we have to make those [free throws],” said Schachter, whose team converted 10-of-17 free throws in the game. “[Kaluz was] maybe a little tired. The guys were battling. If they are not tired in the fourth quarter, they aren’t playing hard enough.

“[Fatigue] could’ve been a factor, but at the end they made one more point than we did.”

It probably shouldn’t have been so close.

The Sea Kings led throughout, relinquishing the lead for the first time since the 3:36 mark in the first quarter with 7:08 to play.

The player responsible for Northwood’s comeback was guard Chris O’Brien, the coach’s son. Northwood Coach Tim O’Brien can rely on his boy.

O’Brien hit the biggest shots by undressing the defense. He finished with 11 of his 20 points in the final quarter.

NonleagueNorthwood 63,Score by Quarters

Corona del Mar 62

Northwood

11

18

16

18

—

63

CdM

18

16

14

14

—

62

Northwood -- O’Brien 20, Widden 13, Hazely 13, Jones 7, Alkhas 7, Hansen 3.

3-pt. goals -- Widden 3, O’Brien 2, Hansen 1, Alkhas 1.

Fouled out -- Hazely.

Technicals -- Hazely.

Corona del Mar-- Kaluz 22, Eberhard 10, Lane 10, Evett 8, Joyce 6, Donovan 4, Meshkin 2.

3-pt. goals -- Donovan 1, Eberhard 1.