CdM hangs on for 46-42 victory

Bryce Alderton

With the game on the line, Corona del Mar High’s Jackie McCoy

delivered.

The 5-foot-9 senior guard for Coach James Barkalow’s girls

basketball team hit 5 of 6 free throws in the closing minutes to

stave off a comeback by University (Los Angeles) and the Sea Kings

(4-7) won, 46-42, to advance to tonight’s final round of pool play at

the 13th annual Cavalier Classic Thursday at Santiago High.

McCoy converted on 9 of 12 from the foul line and finished with a

team-leading 16 points to help CdM win its second consecutive

tournament game, though it didn’t come easy. The Sea Kings led,

24-10, with 4:56 remaining in the first half but didn’t hit a field

goal for the next 10:36 until junior forward Lauren Snell hit a

five-foot shot off a pass from Sarah Stern to put CdM up, 32-23, with

2:20 to go in the third quarter.

“The most important thing is that we won tonight,” Barkalow said.

“The only problem we had tonight was we couldn’t stop (University’s

Randalina Robinson).”

Robinson led all scorers with 38 points including 15 of the team’s 17 fourth-quarter points. Robinson, who stands at 5-9, took advantage

of her height against the smaller CdM defenders, getting the ball in

the low post and converting within five feet on nearly all of her

baskets. Corona’s Aryn Dimas, who stands at 6 feet, didn’t play

because of a “coach’s decision,” but will be back in action tonight.

CdM implemented a full-court press defense in the first quarter

that led to some steals and subsequent conversions. McCoy and senior

Kelliann Klein both hit two three pointers in the first quarter as

junior point guard Colleen Marks had three assists in the period.

Klein finished with 12 points.

Senior Madison Otterbein blocked a shot on a Wildcat shot attempt

in the lane and had three steals and five rebounds.

“I think we’re sitting in a good position as long as we don’t let

up (tonight),” Barkalow said.

Corona faces Rancho Alamitos tonight at 6:30. A win puts CdM in

the championship game Saturday at 8 p.m.

Cavalier Classic

CdM 46, University (L.A.) 42

Score by Quarters

CdM 22 4 8

12 -- 46

University 8 9 8

17 -- 42

Corona del Mar -- Snell 9, Otterbein 6, Klein 12, McCoy

16, C. Marks 3, Stern 0, Heeschen 0, A. Marks 0, Skalla 0.

3-pt. goals -- Klein 3, McCoy 2.

Fouled out -- none.

Technicals -- none.

University -- K. Mejia 0, Robinson 38, Jefferson 2, Okita 2, Villa

0, Hooker 0, Criz 0, Eskandar-Afshari 0, J. Mejia 0.

3-pt. goals -- none.

Fouled out -- Okita.

Technicals -- none.