Sailor girls denied title

Bryce Alderton

The Newport Harbor High girls basketball team entered unfamiliar

territory Friday night and for the first quarter things went

smoothly.

But the Sailors soon found themselves in too deep against host

Valley Christian, which won, 57-39, to claim the championship of the

Valley Christian tournament.

The Sailors (5-4), playing in their first tournament title game in

Coach Jen Thompson’s three seasons at the helm, took a 17-10 lead

after one quarter, but a litany of turnovers, combined with a strong

post game, allowed the Crusaders (7-4) to outscore the visitors,

47-22, in the final three periods.

“We had defensive breakdowns and we didn’t crash the boards as

hard in the second half,” Thompson said. “We talked about good

defense, but [the Crusaders] kept the ball in the middle. Our tallest

player is 5-foot-8 and their tallest is 6-foot or 6-1.”

Forward Megan Lovingier (5-11) scored 17 of her game-high 19

points in the second half to go with 14 points from center Katrina

Davis and 12 from Christen Weaver. All three Crusaders were named to

the all-tournament team.

Newport senior Victoria Swigart tallied a career-high 16 points

and 10 rebounds while Jillianne Whitfield scored eight points to go

with two steals and four assists. Both players were all-tournament

selections.

Newport also received scoring from Allyson Stoltz (two), Kristi

Eddington (six), Ciara Lawrence (four) and Maaike Trobman (three),

while Brittany Deyan grabbed three rebounds. Stoltz added four

assists, and two steals.

The Sailors began the first four minutes, 43 seconds of the second

quarter without a field goal as Valley Christian took its first lead

at 18-17 since it led 6-2 with 4:41 left in the first quarter.

Whitfield and Lawrence were the only two Sailors to score in a second

quarter that saw Newport commit seven turnovers. The game was tied,

22-22, at halftime before the Crusaders began the third quarter on a

6-0 run and never looked back.

Despite the loss, Swigart and the rest of her teammates managed

smiles.

“This was an unbelievable experience,” said Swigart, a three-year

varsity member. “Last year we lost to [Valley Christian] in the

semifinals in overtime, so it was nice to have a rematch. This is a

big deal. In my three years, we were not even close to a championship

game. Even though we got second, it is great to be here. This is

rad.”

Thompson’s eyes gleamed when she shook hands with former UCLA

women’s basketball great Ann Meyers, who passed out plaques following

the game.

“I used to watch you all the time,” Thompson said to Meyers.

*--*

Valley Christian tournament

Final Valley Christian 57, Newport Harbor 39

Score by Quarters

Newport 17 5 7 10 -- 39

Valley 10 12 17 18 -- 57

Newport -- Swigart 16, Eddington 6, Lawrence

4, Whitfield 8, Stoltz 2, Trobman 3, Koon 0,

Celek 0, Slater 0, Deyan 0, Melo 0. 3-pt.

Goals -- Swigart 2, Trobman 1.

Valley -- Lovingier 19, Weaver 12, Davis 14,

Miller 6, Tabah 4, Moore 2, Farrow 0, Dykema

0, Eddington 0, Winters 0. 3-pt. goals --

Lovingier 1.

*--*