Overhauled Sailors start anew
Barry Faulkner
NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High girls basketball coach Gregg
Savage might well wonder if it was something he said.
In addition to graduation, which claimed the services of All-Newport-Mesa
District veterans Alyssa Paul and Kristen Urban, Savage enters his second
season with a roster depleted for various other reasons.
Kalena Jackson, the Newport-Mesa Co-Player of the Year two seasons ago,
transferred to San Clemente.
April Ross, last year’s Newport-Mesa Co-Player of Year, decided to take a
break between volleyball and track and field.
And Lisa Huntington, a two-year varsity veteran, elected to concentrate
on softball.
What’s left are three returners who combined for 61 points -- total -- on
last year’s 15-13 squad, which lost in the first round of the CIF
Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs.
“Basically, I’m starting with my seventh player from last year,” Savage
said.
Evita Castillo, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, will be looked upon to speed the
rebuilding process. She scored in five of her 19 varsity appearances as a
freshman and will try to fill Ross’ big shoes in the post.
“She’s our primary rebounder and one of our primary scorers,” Savage
said. “She’s a person we’ll look to.”
Freshman Athena Vasquez will assume the point guard spot handled for most
of four seasons by Paul (now rowing at Bucknell).
“She’s our best ballhandler and she has great penetrating abilities,”
said Savage, who will count on Vasquez to trigger an up-tempo game.
Lauren Gallardo, a 5-7 junior, comes up from the junior varsity, where
she earned MVP laurels last season. She is one of the team’s better
shooters, Savage said.
Lindsay Moore, a 5-4 senior, is the leading returning scorer with 26
points. Savage expects her to be a key defensive cog.
“We’re going to zone press and drop back into a zone,” said Savage, who
prefers man-to-man, but has adapted to better suit this year’s squad.
Nicole Ashton, who scored 24 points as a junior, returns and joins Moore
as co-captains.
Molly Weedn, a 5-10 junior, played varsity as a freshman, but sat out
last season with a knee injury. Savage identifies her as the team’s best
outside shooter, but he will also count on her to have a presence inside.
Lindsay Woller, a 5-11 freshman, is currently sidelined by a shoulder
injury, but Savage likes her potential.
“She should be cleared to play in January,” Savage said. “She’s a little
raw, but she has quickness and jumping ability and she should develop
into an inside scorer.”
Lisa Gerlach, a 6-0 senior, is up from the junior varsity to provide
depth, while senior Mariko Mikami is a foreign exchange student from
Japan.
Brianna Brooks, a junior who played JV last season, should also
contribute, as will sophomore Lauren Sondel.
“We’re young but it’s a great group of kids who are working extremely
hard,” Savage said. “The whole team is extremely competitive and we have
good chemistry.”
Savage, following the lead of Sailors boys coach Larry Hirst, has planned
a December tournament trip to Las Vegas.
“It’s good for the girls to have the experience of traveling and it
should also help them bond as a team,” Savage said.
Newport, which dropped its opener Tuesday at Orange, visits Laguna Beach
tonight at 7 p.m.
NEWPORT HARBOR ROSTER
10 Lindsay Woller Fr.
11 Lindsay Moore Sr.
12 Nicole Ashton Sr.
15 Mariko Mikami Sr.
22 Molly Weedn Jr.
23 Evita Castillo So.
24 Athena Vasquez Fr.
32 Lauren Gallardo Jr.
34 Brianna Brooks Jr.
44 Lisa Gerlach Sr.
Coach: Gregg Savage
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