CdM girls keep rolling against Eagles

CORONA DEL MAR — At this time last year, the players on the Corona del Mar High girls’ basketball team seemed like rookies, the majority of them experiencing varsity competition for the first time.

The Sea Kings lost their final nine games and finished 7-19. But this season is a different story. CdM Coach Mark Decker described the difference as night and day. His team’s performance wasn’t so bright Saturday, yet the Sea Kings were still able to beat Estancia for the third time this season, 56-43, at CdM.

They outscored the Eagles, 18-7, in the final 5:25 to improve to 14-2. Estancia missed six free throws during that time and sophomore standout Kassie Stratton, who scored a game-high 19 points, fouled out with 3:33 left.

“The resliency at the end,” Decker said of what he enjoyed about the game. “I don’t know if we played a great game, but it’s hard to beat a team three times. They always give us their best. We feel the way we play eventually is going to wear down the other team ... I feel that we wore them down.”

Confidence always helps, too. Decker said the Sea Kings enter games expecting to win, rather than the indifference they possessed last year.

It helps to have depth, as well.

Sophomore Saylor Schroff came off the bench to spark CdM with 14 points, a season-high. Sophomore Kayla Marolt led the Sea Kings with 18 points.

Decker said senior Sami Stern, who scored eight points, provided strength inside.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 56, Estancia 43

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Est – Stratton 19, E. Soto 7, Maldonado 6, Stafford 5, B. Soto 4, Boldizar 2.

3-pt. goals – Stratton 3, Maldonado 1.

Fouled out – Stratton.

Technicals – Asher.

CdM – Marolt 18, Schroff 14, Stern 8, Bergsma 7, Nadal 4, Rapp 3, Rhyme 2.

3-pt. goals – Schroff 1.

Fouled out – Rhyme.

Technicals – None.