Local boys� teams strive for postseason

BASKETBALL: Corona del Mar is poised to win its league, while Costa Mesa, Newport Harbor, Estancia, Sage seek playoff berths.

By David Carrillo Pe�aloza
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Now the important part of the season begins.

For each of the five Newport-Mesa-area boys� basketball programs league is vital to their playoff hopes.

The following is a breakdown of each team and its chances:

CORONA DEL MAR

Out of the five local programs the Sea Kings have gone up against the stiffest competition.

Playing the likes of El Toro (15-1), Tesoro (11-6), Los Alamitos (11-5), Vista Murrieta (12-6), Esperanza (12-7), Santa Margarita (16-1), Saugus (13-2), Palisades (16-2), Upland (13-3) and San Marcos (13-4) at various tournaments early on will pay dividends in the Sea Kings� attempts to defend the Pacific Coast League and CIF Southern Section Division III-A championships.

CdM (10-5) is coming off a third-place finish at the robust Santa Barbara Holiday Classic. The most impressive win during the event came in a 62-59 victory against Palisades, a premier team out of the L.A. City Section.

The Sea Kings are deep and the hands down favorites to repeat in league. This time CdM plans on winning the league crown outright after sharing it with Laguna Hills. With the strength of schedule, only one opponent below .500, the Sea Kings should have an easy time going undefeated in league.

The opener is at home today at 7 p.m. against Beckman (7-8), a team CdM beat by an average of 43 points per game last season. Two days later, CdM�s first clash with Laguna Hills is at home. This time don�t count on 6-foot-9 center Stefan Kaluz to get two technical fouls and get ejected from the game, costing CdM a chance to go perfect in league. The Brown University-bound senior is more mature after leading the Sea Kings to the Division III-A championship.

Kaluz, the Dream Team Player of the Year last season, is averaging 17.6 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. With him and senior forward Joe Eberhard (15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) the Sea Kings have two key returnees with plans of taking CdM back to the top.

There shouldn�t be any tests in league, not even against University, Coach Ryan Schachter�s alma mater. University might be the second-best team in league with its up-and-down play, but its nowhere near CdM.