Corona del Mar boys basketball can’t keep up with Crespi in Open Division

NEWPORT BEACH – The Open Division of the CIF Southern Section boys basketball playoffs annually is a collection of teams of the highest athletic ability.

Corona del Mar learned about that Friday in its home gym.

The Sea Kings could not match the athleticism of Crespi in a 82-70 loss in their first pool-play game in the top-tier division.

It’s not going to get easier for the Sea Kings. They play their second and final pool-play game Tuesday at Sierra Canyon, the top-ranked team in the state.

Sierra Canyon beat Crespi, 71-54, on Wednesday, the first day of pool play for the 12 Open Division teams.

Corona del Mar lost for only the second time this season. The Sea Kings took a 27-1 record and a 12-game winning streak into Friday’s game played in Corona del Mar’s sold-out gym. That 12-game streak was the Sea Kings’ 12-0 record in the Sunset League.

No Sunset League team provided the challenges that Crespi’s Celts brought to Corona del Mar on Friday.

Corona del Mar coach Jason Simco said after the game that Crespi’s size,  skill and speed were difficult challenges for his team.

“Too many points in the paint,” Simco said. “I thought their athleticism sort of overwhelmed us. We saw them live on Wednesday (at Sierra Canyon) and they were about an inch taller than they looked on film and a split second faster than they looked on film.”

Crespi looked that good even without the Celts’ season scoring leader. Cayman Martin, a 6-6 junior averaging 14 points a game, returned to Japan earlier this week.

Isaiah Barnes, a 6-2 junior and son of former NBA player Matt Barnes, led Crespi (20-12) with 24 points. He was 6 for 6 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Jasiah Williams, a 6-4 junior, scored 23 points for Crespi.

Corona del Mar junior guard Maxwell Scott scored 35 points including four 3-point baskets. Scott missed the three shots he took in the first quarter and then was 5 for 6 from the floor in the second quarter and added two free throws for 14 points.

“He’s the motor that makes us go, “ Simco said of Scott. “We’re not the most athletically gifted team, but we go how he goes.”

Senior guard Oliver Nakra scored 15 points for Corona del Mar.

Crespi took charge in the first quarter, getting plenty of inside baskets to go on to a 23-16 lead at quarter’s end. Scott’s 14-point second quarter was cut short when he was assessed his third person foul, sending him to the bench for close to half of the quarter.

The Celts had a 41-35 lead at halftime. They scored the first nine points of the third quarter for a quick 50-35 lead and Corona del Mar would be unable to cut its deficit to under double-digits after that.

Crespi, coached by former Lakers great Derek Fisher, had played Orange County teams before Friday. The Celts split their two games against Crean Lutheran and beat JSerra and Mater Dei this season.

Pool play ends Tuesday. Then the top eight teams in the 12-team field will play in the quarterfinals on Feb. 20. All eight teams will have qualified for the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs.

The bottom four teams will play Feb. 20 to determine who will be the other two teams to advance to the regional.