Newport Harbor rolls over rival, 60-34

Patrick Laverty

As the opener of a Back Bay rivalry doubleheader, Newport Harbor

High’s girls basketball team decided to leave the suspense to the

boys.

The Sailors raced out to an early double-digit lead and cruised to

a 60-34 victory over visiting Corona del Mar Friday, earning their

second straight victory over the Sea Kings.

“Prior to last year, [CdM] had won three years in a row,” Sailors

Coach Jen Thompson said. “We won last year and we wanted to keep it

that way.”

The Sailors (1-0) did so with aggressive play on defense and

strong work on the offensive and defensive boards. Newport Harbor

forced 33 Sea Kings turnovers in the game and came away with 13

offensive rebounds and 22 defensive boards.

In the first quarter alone, Newport Harbor grabbed 13 rebounds to

the Sea Kings’ two and the result was a 19-10 Sailors lead.

Corona del Mar attempted to stay close with the three-point

shooting of Sarah Stern, who made three shots from long range in the

first two quarters, but Newport Harbor took a 33-17 advantage into

the break behind 11 first-half points from Lindsey Miller.

Miller was one of four Sailors to finish in double figures as she

also ended the game with 11 points. Junior Ciara Lawrence led Harbor

with 14 points and converted eight of 10 free throws. Senior Victoria

Swigart added 13 points and nine rebounds and Kristi Eddington had 11

points and six boards.

The balanced scoring attack is even more impressive since senior

Jillianne Whitfield, the leading scorer last season had just four

points. But her effect on the game was much more prominent.

“She’s still a leader on the court,” Thompson said. “She makes

things happen.”

The Sailors extended their lead in the third quarter, using a 12-2

run over he final 4:15 of the period to push the advantage to 49-23.

Swigart and Allyson Stoltz each had a pair of buckets in the run,

while Lawrence came up with a bucket and a pair of free throws.

Stern led the Sea Kings (0-3) with 11 points, while Allison Long

had five points and seven rebounds.

Newport Harbor won’t have long to celebrate the victory over its

rival. It returns to the court at 9:30 a.m. today to battle Estancia

in the first round of the University tournament. The Eagles, the

defending Golden West League champion, should provide a stiff test

for the Sailors.

“I told the girls, don’t go home thinking you’re the CIF champs.

Don’t get cocky,” Thompson said. “Think about tonight and carry it

over to tomorrow.”

*--*

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 60, Corona del Mar 34

Score by Quarters

CdM 10 7 6 11 -- 60

Harbor 19 14 16 11 -- 34

CdM -- Snell 3, Benbow 0, Wayte 0, Marks 0,

Stern 11, Wadhwa 5, Schulte 2, Long 5,

Heeschen 5, Kawata 1, Skalla 2. 3-pt. goals

-- Stern 3, Wadhwa 1, Heeschen 1. Fouled out

-- None. Technicals -- None. NH -- Trobman 0,

Swigart 13, Stoltz 4, Whitfield 4, Miller 11,

Koon 0, Melo 0, Eddington 11, Slater 1, Deyan

0, Lawrence 14. 3-pt. goals -- Miller 2.

Fouled out -- None. Technicals -- None.

*--*