Veteran leadership prevails in overtime

Chris Yemma

It took the Newport Harbor High boys basketball team an extra period

to send visiting Sanger on to its next Southern California

destination with a loss.

But if it wasn’t for a last-second chuck just before the end of

regulation, the Sailors wouldn’t have even needed the overtime period

in Tuesday’s 64-61 victory over Sanger (7-3), a city outside of

Fresno.

As time expired in the fourth quarter, Sanger’s Chris Vera, the

shortest player on the court at 5-foot-6, sank a three-point shot to

tie the game at 57 and send it into overtime.

“That was a pretty big shot,” Newport Coach Larry Hirst said. “It

was also a blown assignment by us.”

That was just about it for the Apaches, though, as Newport (4-5)

controlled the extra period, riding the shoulders of two football

players and one veteran with a knee brace.

Coming off a CIF Southern Section Division VI football title game

appearance at Angel Stadium, seniors Taylor Young and Alex Orth have

provided on the floor. Orth led Tuesday’s overtime charge, scoring

the last three points for the Sailors.

With Newport down, 43-38, with 7:15 remaining, senior Vinnie Nasca

hit a layup, while Young and Perrine combined for eight points to

lead the Sailors forge a 48-45 lead. Young tallied a game-high 21

points while Perrine and Orth scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 64, Sanger 61

Score by Quarters

*--*

Sanger 12 11 12 21 4 -- 61

Newport 15 6 12 23 7 -- 64

*--*

Sanger -- Vera 13, Ferrell 7, Sanchez 8, Tello 12, Teal 7, Bonham

4, Williams 0.

3-pt. goals -- Vera 3, Ferrell 1, Teal 1, Williams 2.

Newport -- Nasca 8, Perrine 12, Young 21, Slater 2, Orth 10, Koon

4, Jackson 2, Yaghjian 3, Brewer 2.