Sailors handle Edison

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High senior Dustin Illingworth

worked all summer on improving an outside game he will assuredly need to

play college basketball.

But if the Sailors’ 50-37 nonleague home victory over Edison Wednesday

night is any indication, Sailor fans may not see the fruits of that labor

much this season.

“You’ve got to take what the defense is giving you,” Newport Harbor Coach

Larry Hirst said. “When you have a big man you can get the ball to

inside, (the opponent) has to respect that option.”

Illingworth, the primary option in a efficiently executed Sailor offense,

scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. After taking

just five shots the first two quarters, the 6-foot-4 four-year varsity

veteran took over after intermission. Backing in from the block and

slicing by defenders from the high post, Illingworth sank 7 of 10

field-goal attempts, all inside, in the final two periods.

Illingworth’s inside dominance -- he also had a game-high 10 rebounds and

blocked two shots -- helped the Sailors (4-1) expand their 23-18 halftime

edge to 38-27 heading into the final quarter.

“I thought when we started to pull away, the key was executing what we

wanted to do, offensively,” Hirst said. “And when we executed, we either

scored or got to the free-throw line. I’m not only pleased with our kids

recognition, but their unselfeshness, as well.”

It was hardly a one-man show for the Tars, who got 10 points and six

rebounds from senior guard Aaron Yarnal and nine points, eight boards and

four assists from senior Sean Rorden.

Senior guard Justin Reynolds added five points, including a

buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the third quarter.

“To survive the jitters of our home opener and Edison’s pressure defense

and escape with a win, it shows me we’re headed in the right direction,”

Hirst said.

Edison, where Hirst played as a prep and later coached, fell to 2-3.

Rorden’s three-pointer with 2:08 left in the first quarter triggered a

9-0 Harbor run that built the hosts’ lead to 16-6.

Edison responded with seven straight points, but never got closer than

five points after a Rorden three-pointer with 3:33 left before halftime.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 50, Edison 37

Score by Quarters

Edison 6 12 9 10 - 37

Newport Harbor 14 9 15 12 - 50

Edison - Henderson 14, Smith 8, Min 7, S. Min 3, Schwartz 2, Prelle 2,

Gonzales 1.

3-pt. goals - Henderson 3.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Newport Harbor - Illingworth 20, Yarnal 10, Rorden 9, Reynolds 5, Perrine

2, Knutti 2, Murray 2, Cook 0, Martin 0.

3-pt. goals - Rorden 2, Yarnal 1, Reynolds 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.