Girls’ Basketball: CdM back in state playoffs

The Corona del Mar High girls’ basketball team reconvened late last week, holding practices Wednesday through Friday.

The Sea Kings took a few days off after falling at top-ranked eventual champion North Torrance, 56-26, in the CIF Southern Section 3AA semifinals on Feb. 28.

This year, unlike last year, the players knew their season likely wasn’t over. That thought was validated Sunday, when the Sea Kings learned they are the No. 5 seed in the CIF State Southern California Regional Division III playoffs.

CdM opens its second straight state playoffs run Wednesday night, playing host to No. 12-seeded Kearny High of San Diego. Last year the Sea Kings were one-and-done after they, as the No. 6 seeds, were upset by No. 11 Garfield, 53-48, in the opening round.

The 2014 berth marked Corona del Mar’s first appearance in the CIF State playoffs. Decker thinks this year could be different, and he had a message for his players as they returned to practice last week.

“I don’t want to do this if we’re just showing up,” Decker said he told his players. “Last year, I think we were happy to be there. This year, I think the whole team really wants to give a good effort and try to get that first state win as a program.”

Kearny (22-6), the Central League champion, advanced to the CIF San Diego Section Division 3 title game before losing to Rancho Bernardo, 53-44, on Saturday.

Decker said he has watched film on that title game.

“They’re good,” Decker said of the Komets. “They’re athletic, a little physical. Not a lot of height, but we’re kind of used to that.”

Senior guard Brianna Smith leads Kearny in scoring at 13.5 points per game, followed by senior wing and team captain Aitana Garland at 11.3 points per game. But none of Kearny’s regulars is taller than 5-foot-7. The Komets have only one such player, 6-foot tall sophomore center Paulina Durazo-Wilson, on their roster.

Corona del Mar (22-8), then, will likely exploit its size advantage like it has against most opponents this season, with 6-4 junior forward Natalia Bruening and 6-2 junior center Krista Anderson.

Bruening, last year’s Newport-Mesa Co-Player of the Year, leads the Sea Kings in scoring with 17.6 points per game, which is fifth in Orange County. But one of CdM’s strengths is its depth, with senior guard Brianna Westrup, senior forward Maria King and junior guard Kelly Tam, as well as senior forward Alexa Pridemore and junior forward Kat Hess off the bench.

Decker believes his team can make a run in the state tournament. Should the Sea Kings win Wednesday, they’d play either on the road at No. 4-seeded Orange Lutheran or at home against No. 13 Sun Valley Poly in the regional quarterfinals on Saturday night.

Decker said that a potential game against a Trinity League opponent like Orange Lutheran would be a good game for his program.

“I know we’re the fifth seed,” he said. “I still feel like if things come together and we get hot, we can still do some damage.”