Sailors stuff three-point threat

NEWPORT BEACH — The Newport Harbor High boys’ basketball team was able to control Marina Wednesday night by being everything the Vikings were not.

While Marina was unabashedly heaving three-point shots the Sailors remained calm, passed up open three-pointers and slowed down the offense.

While Marina was flying around on defense, trapping all over the court, the Sailors held tight man-to-man coverage and contained the state record holders for three-pointers in a season.

And where the Sailors least resembled Marina, in height, they dominated the most, with 6-foot-8 junior Kyle Caldwell scoring a game-high 22 points with 12 rebounds and 6-7 senior Wes Dunlap adding 16 points and 11 rebounds to help Newport Harbor to a 65-57 Sunset League victory.

It was the sixth victory in a row for the Sailors and fourth in league. Newport Harbor (13-4, 4-0 in league) held Marina, which has scored 100 points five times this season, to 14 points below its lowest output in 20 games this season and 23 points below the Vikings’ scoring average.

“Everybody says this is a shooters’ gym and it’s tough to hold shooters down,” Sailors Coach Larry Hirst said.

Marina entered the game holding the state record for three-pointers in a game with 28, while connecting on an average of 17 three-pointers a contest. Against Newport Harbor, which has not allowed an opponent to reach 70, the Vikings were a meager seven of 30 from beyond the arc.

“We played really hard on defense,” said senior guard Nick Nigro, who finished with five points. “We guarded their shooters close. They are a good shooting team.”

Hirst said a lot of credit goes to the practice squad of Harry Tully, Richie Penfil, Bryce Burnham, Brennan Davis, Max Volz and Mike Helfrich, which did its best to mimic Marina’s frenetic pace on offense and defense.

“Under those chaotic conditions we did as well as we could,” Hirst said. “You can’t practice that or simulate it in any form and do it justice.”

Newport Harbor led for the entirety, stretching the margin to its widest of 14 at 24-10, but Marina with its feverish pace remained in striking distance.

Marina had an opportunity to tie the game with a minute and a half remaining in the fourth and the score 59-57, but the Sailors imposed their greatest asset once again: height.

Senior Chad Stassel, 6-1, swatted away 5-8 Garrett James’ layup attempt and Marina would never come within one shot again.

“I was there and he was shorter,” said Stassel, who scored 14 points, which included two free throws with eight seconds left to secure the win. “We watched film on them. We are really coming together as a team. Family, that’s what we always say in the huddle.”

Friday Newport Harbor will go on the road to face Los Alamitos in a game for first place in the league.

“I think we’re tapping every kids’ potential,” Hirst said. “It’s taken us this long, 13 to 15 games to really mold as a team.”

Sunset League

Newport Harbor 65,

Marina 57

Score by Quarters

Marina

7

10

22

18

—

57

Newport

20

6

21

18

—

65

Marina -- T. Lewis 16, C. Lewis 4, Vo 2, Holmes 5, Moore 2, James 12, Irvin 4, Kinoshita 12.

3-pt. goals -- Kinoshita 1, James 2, Holmes 1, T. Lewis 3.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Newport Harbor -- Caldwell 22, Dunlap 16, Kuhns 2, Stassel 14, Helfrich 4, Nigro 5, Serrano 2.

3-pt. goals -- None.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.