Happy trails

Barry Faulkner

Home may be where the heart is, but, with just one home victory in

two seasons under Coach Ryan Curry, the Corona del Mar High boys

basketball team has become passionate about hitting the road.

The Sea Kings (12-15) will do just that in the first round of the

CIF Southern Section Division III-A Playoffs, visiting Ganesha

(15-12) tonight at 7:30 p.m.

CdM, which won a third-place Pacific Coast League playoff with

Calvary Chapel Friday to end a three-game losing streak, has won its

last seven CIF openers. Its last seven trips to the playoffs -- the

Sea Kings watched the postseason from the sideline last year, as well

as in 1997 and ’98 -- CdM has won two section titles (1993 and ‘95),

had one runner-up finish (1999) and bowed out in the semifinals three

other times.

Another extended run is not expected from this year’s unit, but a

quartet of potentially deadly three-point shooters could make CdM a

tough out for even the most talented teams in a deep division.

Ganesha, runner-up in the Valle Vista League, does not appear

particularly imposing. The Giants’ starting five averages 5-foot-10

and Coach Joe Tremblay listed just eight players on the roster he

submitted to the section office. Further, 5-9 guard Long Hoang and

6-1 forward Antonio Taylor are the only seniors on the abbreviated

roster.

“They’re not a seeded team and they’re not a league champion,”

said Curry, who was able to obtain some tapes of the Giants in action

this season.

A scouting report on the Sea Kings would begin with balance and

the aforementioned long-range shooting that has been their strength,

particularly since 6-3 senior Brandon Sherick-Odom went down with an

ankle injury that cost him the last nine games of the season.

Seniors Brett Matsen and Kevin Mancillas, as well as juniors

Pancho Seaborn and Jay Northridge, all guards, have virtually shared

the scoring load this season.

Seaborn, the tallest starter at 6-2, leads the team with 12.2

points per game. He has 52 three-pointers this season.

Mancillas, who has, at times, come off the bench, averages 11.6

points and leads the team with 66 three-pointers.

Matsen has averaged 9.2 ppg and contributed 34 three-pointers,

while Northridge, the point guard, averages 8.1 ppg and has 35 three-pointers. Northridge hit five threes en route to a career-high

23 points in the win over Calvary Chapel.

Junior Adam Freede, another 5-10 guard (6.7 ppg) and 6-0 senior

forward Bart Welch (4.2 ppg) have also been huge contributors, while

Sherick-Odom, Curry said, may return this week.

Tonight’s winner would meet either Banning (25-2) or Gladstone

(9-15) in Friday’s second round.