Corona del Mar Can’t Overcome a Slow Start Against Crespi (70-82)

Maxwell Scott put up 34 points on 13-of-24 shooting, but it wasn’t enough. Corona del Mar fell to Crespi 70-82, with a rough first quarter setting a deficit the Sea Kings couldn’t fully erase.

Crespi came out hot, outscoring CdM 23-16 in the opening frame. The Sea Kings dug themselves a hole early and spent the rest of the first half clawing back. They actually won the second quarter 19-18 — Scott was at the center of it, knocking down a pair of his four three-pointers while Oliver Nakra added three from deep on his way to 15 points. Luke Mirhashemi ran the offense efficiently in stretches, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and dishing five assists. At the half, CdM trailed but had momentum.

The third quarter was where things slipped away again. Crespi outscored the Sea Kings 22-15 to push the lead back out. CdM couldn’t sustain the rhythm it found in the second quarter, and the deficit grew to double digits. Nolan Scott was a bright spot inside — he finished with 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting and grabbed 5 rebounds, bringing physicality on both ends. Ryan Mansouri also hauled down 5 boards and handed out 4 assists. The fourth quarter belonged to CdM, 20-19, but the comeback math was too steep by then.

Scott’s 34-point effort was the kind of individual performance that can carry a team on the right night. Nakra’s three-point shooting gave CdM another reliable weapon. The issue was consistency across four quarters — winning three of them wasn’t enough when the first and third slipped away. The Sea Kings will look to build on what clicked offensively as the schedule continues.

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