Sailors’ effort falls short against potent Edison

Within a playoff loss, Newport Harbor High girls basketball coach Jen

Thompson saw many positives.

The Sailors (13-15), making their first CIF Playoff appearance

since 1999, outscored Sunset League champion Edison (21-5) in the

fourth quarter, but fell short, 57-39, in a CIF Southern Section

Division II-AA first-round game.

Edison has now won 10 in a row and received sterling scoring

efforts from Rebecca Kepilino (24 points) and Eva Camarena (16

points). The Chargers were ranked No. 9 in the final Division II-AA

poll.

“(Kepilino) was driving, making free throws, everything,” Thompson

said. “She is a sophomore and is really good.

“I think a lot of people thought we would get stomped by 30 or 40,

but we stuck with them. The girls never give up.”

Leading Newport’s attack were senior Athena Vasquez (10 points,

three assists), Vanessa Miller (seven points), Jillianne Whitfield

(six points, two assists), Lindsey Woller (four points, six rebounds)

and Victoria Swigart (three points, four rebounds).

“Vasquez had a really good game, she made things happen,” Thompson

said.

Newport led early, 4-2, but couldn’t regain the advantage after

that.

Last season Newport Harbor managed only four wins, so reaching the

playoffs was an accomplishment, Thompson said.

“It’s a whole different era now,” Thompson said. “Before it was,

‘Let’s win a couple games,’ now were not looking to be last in

league, but to make the playoffs and get a lot more wins.”