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.

Savage said Brianna Brooks, a junior who played JV last season, was

tentatively scheduled to join the team.

“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 HARBOR ROSTER

(Numbers Not available yet, still workin on it)

Nicole Ashton Sr.

Evita Castillo So.

Lauren Gallardo Jr.

Lisa Gerlach Sr.

Mariko Mikami Sr.

Lindsay Moore Sr.

Athena Vasquez Fr.

Molly Weedn Jr.

Lindsay Woller Fr.