Boys basketball: Sea Kings take care of El Monte

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - Idean Shahangian has become a scoring machine for

the Corona del Mar High boys basketball team and the Sea Kings are enjoys

the fruits of his labor.

Hanging around the eight-points-per-game zone after 11 contests, the 6-foot-1 senior point guard has averaged a whopping 24 points per game,

including 27 Wednesday night in the Sea Kings’ 64-46 nonleague win over

visiting El Monte.

“He’s definitely coming around,” Corona del Mar Coach Paul Orris said.

“We’ve been working on him, trying to show him when to force the issue

and when not to force the issue. He’s been more patient and good things

have been happening for him.”

The key to Shahangian’s offense Wednesday night was a strong defensive

effort. His seven steals led to a number of easy breakaway layups.

While Shahangian was putting big numbers up on the scoreboard, senior

Matt Marston was doing the dirty work down low, contributing with 12

points and 11 rebounds for CdM (6-9), winners of three in a row.

“Matt was huge for us in the paint,” Orris said. “He really stepped it

up for us in the third quarter, which helped us get some much-needed

breathing room.

El Monte jumped out to an early lead, but the Sea Kings closed out the

first quarter with an 18-3 run and a 21-9 advantage. Shahangian (seven

points) and senior Eric Snell (six points) were the offensive leaders.

That comfortable lead started to evaporate as fast as it originally

grew. The Lions (3-10) started to outplay and outhustle the Sea Kings and

by the end of the second quarter, the lead was down to only four points.

“I put in some subs in the second quarter and our intensity dropped,”

Orris said. “Everyone on this team has to be ready to step it up. If we

play like that against Mission Viejo (Friday night, 7 p.m. at CdM), we’ll

get clobbered.”

Nothing like a halftime chat from Orris to get the Sea Kings back on

track. With CdM clinging to a two-point advantage, Shahangian and Marston

took the game over.

Marston opened the quarter with some gritty board work, turning the

momentum back into the Sea Kings’ favor, while Shahangian continued to

put points on the scoreboard.

The duo scored 15 of the CdM’s 17 third-quarter points as an 11-2 run

extended the lead to 46-35.

Shahangian became “Mr. Thief” to start the fourth quarter, scoring

nine of CdM’s next 11 points, with eight of those points coming off of

steals and breakaway layups.

“Sometimes our guys are trying to do too much out there,” Orris said.

“Tonight, we kept it simple and our players let the game come to them.”

Julio Alvarez led the Lions with 15 points, while Enrique Ultreras

chipped in with 12.

Snell finished the game with 10 points, while sophomore Kevin

Mancillas scored seven, all in the fourth quarter.

After a slow start, the Sea Kings are starting to turn the corner as

of late.

“The kids are all working hard and they all deserve playing time,”

Orris said. “We just have to stay patient with our offense and we’ll be

fine.”

Following Friday night’s home clash with Mission Viejo, the Sea Kings

will open Pacific Coast League play at Laguna Beach on Jan. 10, beginning

at 7 p.m.

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 64, El Monte 46

El Monte 9 16 10 11 - 46

Corona del Mar 21 8 17 18 - 64

El Monte - Alvarez 15, E. Ultreras 12, Hang 8, J. Ultreras 7, Ceja 2,

C. Garcia 2.

3 pt. goals - Alvarez 2, E. Ultreras 1, J. Ultreras 1.

Fouled out - Hang.

Corona del Mar - Shahangian 27, Marston 12, Snell 10, K. Mancillas 7,

Brewster 4, Alshuler 2, Reynolds 2, B. Mancillas 0, Glass 0, Grey 0,

Richardson 0.

3 pt. goals - Shahangian 2, Snell 2, K. Mancillas 1.

Fouled out - none.