Shadowlands

Looking back, 5 years ago this week:

Corona del Mar High Principal Don Martin mails an appeal to the

CIF state office, asking that CdM be placed in the Pacific Coast

League the following fall and be replaced by Aliso Niguel in the Sea

View League. Orange County league representatives voted, 8-1 with one

abstention, to retain the status quo for one more year at a meeting

of the CIF Southern Section Council. Martin believes CdM fits the

re-leaguing criteria of geography, enrollment and competitive equity,

necessary for a switch.

Estancia High’s boys soccer team defeats visiting Ocean View, 3-0,

in the first round of the CIF Division IV Playoffs. Eagle Coach Steve

Crenshaw changes the venue from Estancia High to Harper School due to

wet conditions. The Eagles, who outshoot Ocean View, 17-3, in the

second half, finally score in the 63rd minute when sophomore

midfielder Stuart Moncada tips in a corner kick from Jose Quintana.

Forward Luis Rivera fires from 35 yards out to make it, 2-0, in the

69th minute. Then, Cesar Terrones dribbles through defenders for a

three-on-one break to score in the 77th minute. Estancia senior

goalkeeper Brad Wayman saves both shots on Seahawk scoring chances in

the first half.

Freshman center Natalie Weeks’ tip-in at the buzzer gives the

Orange Coast College women’s basketball team a share of the Orange

Empire Conference championship with a 63-62 victory over visiting

Fullerton. The win gives Orange Coast Coach Mike Thornton his first

career title as women’s coach, including the last nine years at OCC.

Weeks’ tip is the fourth in the waning seconds as a pile spreads

across the floor. Jennifer Ludwicki dribbles the lane before passing

to Weeks to set the final series in motion. Ludwicki tallies 25

points and 11 rebounds. Orange Coast extends its conference-winning

streak to seven games with the comback victory. The Pirates win their

first conference title in 16 years.

Looking back, 10 years ago this week:

Costa Mesa High’s Olivia DiCamilli pours in a season-high 33

points with 15 rebounds to lead the hosts past St. Paul, 73-40, in a

CIF Southern Section Division III-A Playoff game. The Mustangs are on

a 19-game winning streak. Heather Robinson (12 points, five rebounds,

three assists) and Yool Kim (12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists,

two steals) contribute to the victory. Mesa (23-4) leads, 17-0, and,

21-2, in the first quarter before the Swordsmen stage a comeback to

pull within four points twice in the third quarter.

The visiting Estancia High girls basketball team pulls away from

Pioneer to win, 36-27, in a first-round CIF Division III-AA Playoff

game. Freshman Jessica Waltz (a first-team All-Pacific Coast League

selection) battles some early nerves to score seven fourth-quarter

points, including three straight field goals in a 43-second span, to

mark a 10-0 run. Karla Dominguez leads the Eagles with six steals,

including a key swipe with 4:14 left that leads to a Waltz 14-foot

jumper. Jenny Drake and Cyndi Richards complete the 10-point blitz

with layups. The Corona del Mar High boys basketball team scores 13

of the final 15 points and wins, 58-45, to advance to the CIF

semifinals against Banning. Corona del Mar’s Todd Merriman finishes

with a game-high 24 points, going 5 for 5 from the field in the

fourth quarter. Chris Quinn’s three-point play nine seconds into the

fourth quarter gives CdM a 29-27 lead and the Saints lead only once

again, 33-32. CdM Coach Paul Orris praises the defensive efforts of

starter Eli Wendell and Fabian Bohne against Price, who scores 19

points with 10 rebounds and six blocked shots. Kyle Thompson scores

six of his eight points in the fourth period. Quinn tallies 13

rebounds and nine points.

-- compiled by Bryce Alderton