‘Holden’ on for the win, 33-31

The Newport-Mesa All-Net girls eighth-grade basketball team

improved to 6-2 with two wins last weekend. Newport defeated

Whittier, 33-31, following a Taylor Holden layup with 10 seconds left

on a pass from Allie Duernberger. A desperation three by Whittier as

the clock ran out didn’t go in.

Duernberger led all players with 15 points while Holden added six

and Ivy Melo contributed five. Brittany Deyan chipped in three points

and Ashley Kirby and Chelsea McCrea each had two.

Newport trailed Whittier, 18-13, at halftime.

The girls defeated Corona/Norco, 44-37, in the first game.

Holden led all scorers with 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as

Newport overcame a 22-15 halftime deficit. The victors scored 19

third-quarter points.

Three pointers by Melo and Duernberger provided the spark. Both

tallied 11 points and McCrea added 10 boards with Deyan grabbing

eight. Kirby chipped in four points and Christine Daichendt added two

with five rebounds.

In boys seventh-grade action:

Newport 52, Capo/Dana 44

Newport extended its record to 7-0 with a win over the defending

league champions.

Jamie McGee had 16 points and four steals while P.J. Simpson

tallied 14 points followed by Kyle Caldwell (nine points, seven

rebounds, three assists), Robbie Boyer (four points, six rebounds),

Joe Eberhard (four points), Will Kelly, R.J. D’Cruz and Ali Meshkin.

Newport takes on Laguna Hills (6-1) Feb. 2 at Newport Harbor High.

In boys sixth-grade play:

Newport 47, Laguna Beach 36

Newport improved to 6-1 with the win.

Michael Helfrich (14 points), Danny Moskovits (eight points) and

Sean Donovan (six points) led the scoring. Frank Denower, J.B. Green,

Joey Jones, Cameron Holmes and Nick Freeman also scored for Newport.

Andrew McDonald contributed at both ends of the floor.

In boys fifth-grade play:

Newport 49, Aliso Niguel 42

The fifth-graders won their fifth in a row to maintain a hold on

first place.

Leading scorers for Newport included: Neil O’Hara (16), Fletcher

Della Grotta (10) and Parker Stone (seven).

Austin Rios and Trevor Miles each led the victors with six

rebounds apiece while Dillon Campbell grabbed three boards.

Andrew Roth had five steals and Collin Krahe and J.D. Abbott each

collected three.

Randall Nelson had a team-high nine assists.