Sea Kings rally for 40-31 win

Bryce Alderton

It is the first week of the boys basketball season and there are

still many questions that must be answered as the journey progresses

for both Newport Harbor High and Corona del Mar.

But there was little doubt as to the role defense played in

Friday’s annual renewal of the Back Bay clash in the Sea Kings’ gym.

CdM worked out its kinks after an early 7-0 deficit and clamped

down on the Sailors to seal a gritty, 40-31 nonleague victory in

front of a near-capacity crowd.

“[The Sea Kings] outhustled us and outrebounded us,” Sailors Coach

Larry Hirst said of CdM’s first victory in the series since 1999. “It

was a Back Bay brawl and they brawled better.”

The Sea Kings (1-1) grabbed 32 rebounds to the Sailors’ 24 while

holding the visitors to 24 percent shooting (10 for 42), using a

man-to-man defense that also forced nine steals.

Senior Ted Slaughter, who stands 6-foot-7, finished with

game-highs in rebounds (10) and blocks (four), making it difficult

for the Sailors (0-1) to establish any post presence.

“I was just trying to stop [the Sailors] from getting into the

key,” said Slaughter, who added two points. “Several guys pulled

through and our defense shut them down.

“This is a huge win.”

In turn, the Sea Kings were paced by senior Brett Hirata and

junior guard Ryan Lance, who each tallied a game-high 14 points.

Junior guard Dennis Heenan led Newport with 12 points while junior

teammate Tony Yahigan added eight for the Sailors.

Though early in the season, the number of bodies diving on the

floor for loose balls indicated the game’s importance for both teams.

Each side also had its share of turnovers, allowing the Tars to

stay within reach.

The Sea Kings never led by more than eight points after taking the

lead for good when Hirata hit the second of his game-high four

three-pointers to put the hosts up, 8-7, with 39 seconds remaining in

the first quarter.

Hirata’s three ball capped an 8-0 run to close the quarter and was

part of a 17-2 CdM scoring burst that covered 6:25 of the first and

second periods.

The Sea Kings didn’t score their first points until senior Tyler

Lance, who grabbed nine rebounds while adding six points and three

steals, hit two free throws with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter.

CdM Coach Ryan Curry said the rusty opening wasn’t cause for

panic.

“We held Newport to seven points in the first six minutes, so the

defense was doing their job,” said Curry, in his fourth season at the

helm. “We got solid minutes out of everyone.”

Heenan hit two threes and added a fallaway, 14-foot jumper as

Newport closed the first half with an 8-2 run to trail, 19-17, at

intermission.

The Sailors were without projected senior starters Taylor Young

and Alex Orth, along with junior Tom Jackson.

The trio plays for Newport’s football team, which was busy

defeating Mayfair, 24-17, in the CIF Southern Section Division VI

semifinals Friday night.

Hirst said the absences were no excuse.

*--*

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 40, Newport Harbor 31

Score by Quarters

Newport 7 10 4 10 -- 31

CdM 8 11 8 13 -- 40 Newport -- Perrine 3, Slater 2, Koon 1, Heenan

12, Yahigan 8, Caldwell 3, Dunlap 2, Nasca 0,

Stevens 0, Brewer 0. 3-pt. goals - Heenan 2,

Yahigan 2. Fouled out -- None. Technicals --

None. CdM -- T. Slaughter 2, T. Lance 6, Hirata

14, Smith 0, R. Lance 14, S. Slaughter 2,

Hinton 2, Kaluz 0, Jacobs 0. 3-pt. goals --

Hirata 4, R. Lance 1. Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

*--*