Hornets advance to title matchup

The Newport-Mesa Hornets remained unbeaten (12-0) as they defeated

the Chino Valley Magic, 61-59, in National Junior Basketball

seventh-and eighth-grade boys championship series action.

Gus Ellis led the Hornets with 16 points and four rebounds

followed by Chase Pinesett (four points, five rebounds, five assists)

and Erik Rask (17 points, two rebounds, four assists).

Also providing strong offensive support were Thomas Dialynas

(eight points on 2 of 3 three-point shots, two assists, two steals),

Timothy Regan (two points, one rebound), J.P. Gormly (seven points,

one rebound) and Austin Apramian.

Andy Rovzar (five points, one assist), with help from Kevin Rask

(two points) and Erik Rask, ably handled the offense.

The Hornets advance to the championship game of the Reebok I

bracket Sunday at a site to be determined. All teams in the bracket

were undefeated during the regular season.

Newport Beach Jazz rolls into title game

The Newport Beach Jazz advanced to the championship game in the

National Junior Basketball Division 2 championship series with a

41-23 victory over the Tustin Trailblazers.

Chase Fredensberg led all scorers with 12 points followed by Ryan

Rolfes (nine), Cameron Chase and Zak Maurer-Erickson (eight each).

Maurer-Erickson tallied 13 rebounds and Dominique Palmer grabbed a

career-high 12 boards. Matt Fisher and Jonathan Picarelli each

recorded seven assists with Chris Parten and Justin Wilson supporting

off the bench.

The Jazz present a pressing defense behind Coach Dominic Picarelli

and assistants Darren Palmer, Randy Erickson and Chip Fisher.

Newport-Mesa All-Star team announced

The Newport-Mesa girls fourth-grade National Junior Basketball

team was announced.

Chelsea Barth, Kelsey Carrido, Elika Fateri, Laura Martinez, Allie

Moskovits, Ellie Nadal, Saylor Schroff, Duran Sharp, Kassie Stratton

and Kelsey Woo all made the team that will be coached by Lonnie Nadal

and Mike Sharp.

Newport-Mesa wraps up Blue Division

The Newport-Mesa All-Net boys seventh-grade basketball team

clinched the Blue Division championship outright with a 52-49 victory

over second-place Diamond Bar.

Newport erased a 10-point third-quarter deficit and Robbie Boyer

made three free throws in the final eight seconds to seal the

victory.

Kyle Caldwell led the Newport offense with 14 points, nine

rebounds and two steals.

Boyer notched 13 points, two assists and two steals and Jamie

McGee provided clutch baskets and key passing with 12 points and

three assists.

Jonathan Howse collected seven points and nine rebounds to go with

scoring from Joe Eberhard and Will Kelly.

Newport improves to 11-1 with a three-game lead with two to play.

In fith-grade action:

* Red Raiders 41, San Clemente 31

The Newport Red Raiders won their 11th in a row.

J.D. Abbott led all scorers with 10 points followed by Trevor

Miles with eight and Collin Krahe (seven) and Neil O’Hara (six).

Fletcher Della Grotta led rebounders with six followed by Andrew

Roth’s five and Austin Rios’ three.

Parker Stone dished out six assists to go with four each from

Randall Nelson and Dillon Campbell.

In girls eighth-grade play:

* Newport 47, Vista 35

Newport scored 34 points in the second half to put away the

Wildcats.

Brittany Deyan paved the way with 14 points and seven rebounds

with Taylor Holden (10 rebounds) and Ivy Melo each adding 10 points.

Allie Duernberger and Chelsea McCrea added six points each with

Ashley Kirby adding one.

Kirby grabbed eight rebounds with six steals.

Newport led, 13-10, at halftime, and now readies for the Sectional

Tournament March 15-16.