IRVINE – Corona del Mar took the lead five minutes into the game and never trailed again in a 59-53 victory over Beckman in a Pacific Coast League boys basketball game Friday at Beckman High.
The contest kicked off the second round of the league schedule.
The Sea Kings (14-8, 4-2) are in second place behind Northwood (18-5, 5-1) with four league games remaining. The Timberwolves defeated University on Friday to maintain sole possession of first place.
The Patriots (10-12, 3-3) were in foul trouble for most of the game and put the Sea Kings into a double-bonus situation in both halves.
The Sea Kings were far from stellar from the free throw line, but still scored 20 points on free throws, compared to six for Beckman.
“They’re good, they’re physical and tough and they make shots,” Sea Kings coach Ryan Schachter said of Beckman. “We knew they were in foul trouble and that is why we kept going inside.”
The Sea Kings led 57-46 when Ryan Sprosty hit his fifth 3-pointer to get Beckman within eight with 43 seconds remaining in the game.
Sprosty led Beckman with 21 points.
The Patriots’ Dylan Thoerner hit pair of free throws and a basket to cut the lead to four with 24 seconds left.
Corona del Mar’s John Humphreys, who was the game’s high scorer with 22 points, missed two free throws, but Sprotsky missed a 3-point attempt that could have made it one-point game.
Kevin Kobrine, who scored 17 for the Sea Kings, hit a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining, and the Patriots were only able to get off one more shot.
“We’ve got to work on our free throws,” Schachter said.