CdM eighth-graders reach title game

The Corona del Mar eighth-grade boys’ basketball team reached the title game of the playoffs. CdM lost to Ensign, 40-38, in the final.

CdM (7-1) won the regular-season Coastal Athletic League title going 6-0.

In the playoffs, CdM beat Dwyer of Huntington Beach, 38-25.

Against Ensign, it was a tightly contested game with both teams playing extremely hard. Down nine in the third period, CdM’s Ben Humphreys and Max Kline hit consecutive three-pointers to cut the score to three.

The battle continued into the fourth period with Ensign’s Keisean South controlling the tempo and the game with back-to-back layups. CdM’s Harrison Carter grabbed a rebound and putback with four minutes to go to cut the lead again to three.

Every possession was a battle with CdM’s Kevin Fults grabbing key rebounds down the stretch and Brett Greenlee playing strong defense as well for the SeaWeeds. In the final minute, South hit a jumper to put Ensign up by five, but Humphreys would rally the team again hitting a clutch three-pointer to cut the lead to two. With 6.8 seconds remaining, CdM had one last shot to tie or win the game, but Humphrey’s runner in the lane came up short.

The SeaWeeds received stellar play all season long from Austin Ridge, Ryan Stone, Hagen Truninger, Augie Miller, Logan Miller, Parker Chase, Chad Redfearn and Trevor Schwartz.

The team was coached by Scott Stucki.

— Reader submission