Brief

Lightning wins title

The Newport Lightning Basketball Club’s girls’ varsity team went 4-0 last weekend to capture the Swoosh Spring Classic at Godinez High.

The Lightning beat the Blue Storm of Fullerton, 65-25, and SoCal Dream (LA/OC), 47-43, in pool play to advance to the championship bracket Sunday.

On Sunday, the Lightning beat Pressure of Chino Hills, 44-38 and advanced to the championship game where they beat North Orange County (Buena Park) 32-30 to capture their first championship in their first tournament together as a team.

The Lightning were led by Corona del Mar High’s Caroline van der Velde (18 points per game, eight rebounds per game) and Katie Bergsma (7.5 ppg, six rpg) and Estancia’s Kassie Stratton (nine ppg, 3 rpg).

Karleh Wilson (seven ppg, six rpg), Melanie de Arakal (4.66 ppg) and Gaby Rapp (3.66 ppg) also contributed.

Ava Soleimany (four ppg, 4.5 apg) of Sage Hill School and Mimi Gibson (four ppg) ran the offense and played excellent defense for the Lightning.

Kayla Marolt, Samantha Coffman, Amy Hoogenboom and Jordan Meyers were unavailable for the tournament.

— Reader submission