CdM opens PCL with ease

IRVINE — Watching Corona del Mar High junior Stefan Kaluz easily elevate over everyone in the paint, the startled opposing coach asked for the referee’s help.

When Kaluz dunked home a miss with 59 seconds left in the third quarter, Steve Fischel could no longer tolerate the 6-foot-9 center.

“That one was over the rim,” Fischel cried to the referee sprinting toward the sideline.

The referee heard Fischel, stopped, smiled, and then said, “Why are you telling me this now?”

Kaluz abused Beckman throughout, using his frame well, allowing him to finish with 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, and the Sea Kings to make a statement in their Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball opener.

CdM made sure to get rid of the host school early, jumping out to a 31-point lead at halftime en route to a 69-30 victory Wednesday night.

Things got so ugly that the referee dumbfounded by Fischel earlier ordered the clock to run with the Sea Kings up by 40 points with 6:48 to play.

By that time only one CdM starter stayed in the game. That’s how the Sea Kings (11-6, 1-0 in league) drew it up before tip-off against a school in its second year playing varsity and first with a senior class.

“We knew we were definitely going to win,” said CdM guard Eddie Lane, whose team shot 57% from the floor. “We come for a shutout. We just play hard, aggressive, and then we just play around in the fourth quarter.”

Lane toyed around on the bench, but he did on the court, too, against Beckman (7-12, 0-1).

In the second quarter, after getting his teammates involved to build a 21-3 advantage, Lane turned it up offensively.

Lane attacked the lane, showcasing that not only 6-9 players can jump. He scored two of his 11 points on a one-hand dunk. Soon after, with the Sea Kings ahead, 34-8, with close to two minutes before halftime, CdM Coach Ryan Schachter substituted for Lane.

The senior received the loudest applause of the night.

“When he goes to the basket, he’s a good player,” said Schachter of Lane, who went five-for-six shooting. “In league, the only thing that’s going to give us trouble is [us]. We’re a notch above everyone else, [just] as long as we do what we need to do.”

Feeding the big men is CdM’s top priority.

Before Kaluz skied over everyone, 6-7 forward John Joyce showcased his game. Pounding right at the opposition.

Point guard Austin Evett dropped the ball into Joyce as early as possible. Joyce, too much to handle at 240 pounds, scored four of his 10 points in the opening quarter.

With Joyce’s contributions, this created problems for an undersized Beckman school, which last season finished 1-25.

“In the first half we were a little intimidated by [their size],” said Fischel, whose team was forced to shoot from the outside, finishing 11-for-42 shooting. “We didn’t execute our game plan. We were trying to bring a quick double team in the post and we didn’t adjust well.”

Kaluz gave 6-1 forwards Jamal Jenkins and Steven Nathan fits. When Kaluz didn’t turn baseline and hit a jumper over the two, he beat them to offensive rebounds.

Kaluz even swished in a hook 35 seconds after slamming down that missed shot in the fourth, leaving Fischel no choice but to roll his eyes on the sideline. The referee wasn’t going to hear it.

“We’ve seen some size,” Fischel said, “but not quite that much.”

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 69,

Beckman 30

Score by Quarters

CdM

21

20

21

7

—

69

Beckman

3

7

16

4

—

30

Corona del Mar -- Kaluz 21, Lane 11, Joyce 10, Eberhard 9, Donovan 5, Anderson 4, Meshkin 4, Evett 3, Rask 2 .

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

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Beckman -- Do 11, Arambulo 6, Greenbaum 5, Jenkins 4, Lekavich 2, Nathan 2, Marsh 2.

3-pt. goals -- Arambulo 2, Greenbaum 1, Do 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.