HUNTINGTON BEACH – Junior guard Maxwell Scott probably is the best player on the Corona del Mar boys basketball team.
Scott earned All-Orange County status his freshman and sophomore years.
He was unable to play Monday in a Sunset League game against Edison because of a respiratory illness. Corona del Mar did fine without him.
Better than fine, actually. The Sea Kings took a gigantic lead in the first half and went on to a 70-46 win at Edison.
Corona del Mar led 21-0 at the end of a first quarter in which all five starters scored. The Sea Kings had a 28–0 lead before Edison scored with 3:40 remaining in the second quarter.
Corona del Mar senior guard Oliver Nakra scored a game-high 25 points. One of the county’s better outside shooters, Nakra made six 3-point baskets. Junior guard Ryan Mansouri scored 13 points with three 3-pointers and Caden Sanchez scored 12 with two 3s.
Nolan Scott, a sophomore and Maxwell Scott’s brother, had nine rebounds.
The Sea Kings, No. 4 in the Orange County Top 25, is 19-1 overall and 4-0 in the Sunset League. Their lone loss was to Lake Washington of Washington in a tournament game Dec. 30.
Corona del Mar coach Jason Simco liked the way the Sea Kings shared the basketball.
“We have a lot of guys who can score and they’re all willing passers,” Simco said. “They all cheer for each other. It’s a special unit.”
Edison, No. 16 in the county rankings, is 16-4 overall and 3-1 in league.
Edison senior guard Derick Johnson scored 23 points including four 3-pointers. He scored 13 points in the third quarter as the Chargers outscored the Sea Kings 23-17 to shrink the gap to 11 points, 39-28.
Corona del Mar adjusted that to a 15-point lead at the end of the third quarter. Nakra made two 3-pointers and Sanchez made one 3 in the early moments of the fourth quarter to lock down the Sea Kings win.
The Sea Kings played Monday like they have all season, including in their all-important 78-77 league win last week over Los Alamitos. They moved the ball around the court quickly, and players without the ball were in constant motion, cutting or setting screens.
“Everyone wants to play for each other,” Nakra said. “No one is selfish on this team.”
Johnson went into the game averaging 34 points a game. Corona del Mar senior Luke Mirhashemi drew the assignment to guard Johnson, and was exceptional. Johnson missed his first five shots, four of them 3-point tries, as the Sea Kings sprinted to the big, early lead.
Edison in the first quarter was 0 for 15 on all shots including 0 for 13 on 3-point shots.
To the Chargers’ credit, they battled to get back into the game in the third quarter until Corona del Mar pulled away again.
Corona del Mar’s next game is a league game Wednesday at Huntington Beach.
Simco said Maxwell Scott might be available to play in that one.
Edison’s next game is a league game Wednesday at Fountain Valley.