CdM humbled in loss

IRVINE — Ryan Schachter has returned to his alma mater before as the Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball coach.

In each of the previous two visits to University he’s done the whole reunion thing.

He talks to his former coach, Mike Dinneen, and former teachers before waving goodbye with easy wins.

The third gathering at his old school turned out differently.

All Schachter earned afterward was possibly a free dinner.

Dinneen got one over on his protege Friday night and you bet it felt good.

The 50-year-old saw his Trojans come from behind to beat the Sea Kings, 56-52, in a battle of two previously unbeaten Pacific Coast League teams.

University (12-5, 2-0 in league) took sole possession of first place, knocking off the two-time defending league champion Sea Kings.

In doing so, Schachter lost for the first time against Dinneen in his three seasons at CdM.

“He beat me four [straight] times,” said Dinneen of Schachter, who graduated from University in 1996. “[The Sea Kings] had won six in a row [overall against us]. We had won 10 of the previous 11 before they won six in a row.

“It goes in cycles, but we got the one [Friday].”

Every league series, except one, had gone CdM’s way under Schachter.

The fifth meeting pitting former player against former coach challenged the Sea Kings’ dominance in league.

University ended CdM’s 16-game league winning streak, which dated back to Schachter’s first season in 2006-07.

The difference proved to be the late offensive rebounds leading to big shots and the raucous crowd behind University.

CdM (9-9, 2-1) failed to recover.

Senior Sean Donovan hit a jumper, giving him 22 points as the Sea Kings clung to a 50-49 lead with 2:59 left in the game.

The score remained the same as the two teams combined to miss their next seven shots.

On the seventh miss, University grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out to a wide-open Ben Kwan behind the three-point line.

The junior guard buried his second three-pointer in the fourth and his fourth of the game, putting University ahead by two points with 1:26 left.

“Getting the lead was psychological for us,” said Dinneen, whose team fought back, outscoring CdM, 20-10, to overcome an eight-point deficit in the third quarter.

At the free-throw line, CdM center Steven Gallian, who finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, tied it at 52-52. With 70 seconds remaining, the senior converted two clutch attempts.

On the ensuing University possession, the Sea Kings defended well, preventing Kwan or junior guard Jed Borovik from taking a shot.

Borovik had 14 points and Kwan 13 points, both proved deadly from the outside.

With the shot clock winding down, University went to sophomore guard Christian Scott. Dinneen said Scott reminds him of Schachter, his toughness.

Scott’s resiliency aided him when he appeared to get fouled while attempting a jumper over a leaping 6-foot-6 Gallian near the free-throw line.

No foul was called. And Scott didn’t need the help.

Scott’s jumper at the 39-second mark proved to be the game-winning shot. It sent the crowd into a frenzy and Scott believes the Trojans are the league favorites.

“I think this is our year,” said Scott, who finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four steals.

The two teams will meet again on Feb. 4. This time at CdM.

Donovan can’t wait for the rematch, especially after the Sea Kings faltered at the end, going two for 11 from the floor and getting outscored, 15-7, in the final quarter.

“They really wanted it with Joe [Eberhard] and Stefan [Kaluz having graduated],” said Donovan, naming two former Sea Kings instrumental in CdM’s success the previous two seasons. “They definitely feel like this is their year.”

Schachter still believes his Sea Kings have an opportunity to win their third straight league crown.

The only thing Schachter looked forward to after Friday’s game was dinner with his old coach.

“We’ll go have dinner after and we’ll talk more,” said Schachter, whose team plays Canyon tonight at the Martin Luther King Classic at Century High at 7:30. “I don’t know [who’s paying]. We’ll figure that out. I think the winner should pay.”

Pacific Coast League

University 56, Corona del Mar 52

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM – Donovan 22, Cheek 12, Gallian 11, Quon 4, Jakosky 2, Jones 1.

3-pt. goals – Cheek 2, Donovan 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

U – Itani 16, Borovik 14, Kwan 13, Scott 9, Curtis 2, McLaughlin 2.

3-pt. goals – Kwan 4, Borovik 3, Itani 2.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].