Boys basketball: Harbor has the heroes

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High boys basketball team’s

scouting report is significantly more extensive, after the Sailors’

nerve-racking, 59-57 overtime win over Sea View League visitor Woodbridge

Friday night.

Virtually a two-man offense through 18 games, the Tars had received 62%

of their scoring from senior Dustin Illingworth and junior guard Aaron

Yarnal.

And while both contributed mightily to the seesaw struggle against the

Warriors -- splitting 40 points evenly -- by the time it was over, there

were a few more members of the Harbor heroes club.

“You hope, with all those days of practice we’ve had, now, those other

kids will feel confident enough, when the time comes, to step up, be

fundamentally sound and make the right play,” Newport Coach Larry Hirst

said.

Sophomore Tony Melum made more than a few plays, as did senior Sean

Rorden, freshman Greg Perrine and senior Justin Reynolds.

Yarnal drilled two fourth-quarter three-pointers and netted a pair of

free throws with 28 seconds left to help the Sailors survive a Doug

Koeller three-pointer at the buzzer that forced overtime.

Yarnall also kick-started the overtime session, getting off a driving

layup attempt with the third tipoff, which Melum followed up for his

second roof-raising tipin.

Illingworth rolled in a runner on the Tars’ second overtime possession to

push the lead to 53-49.

But Yarnal missed most of the extra session with a cramp in his right

calf and Illingworth, the consistent focus of the Warrior’s inspired

defensive effort, didn’t score again.

The Sailors’ supporting cast, however, stepped out of the wings to help

the hosts (14-5, 3-0 in league and ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section

Division II-AA and Orange County) retain sole possession of first place

with five league games remaining.

Melum swished two double-bonus free throws with 1:49 left in overtime to

put the Tars ahead, 55-51.

After a Shane Harris three-pointer drew Woodbridge (12-8, 1-1) to within

one, Melum blocked an inside shot and Reynolds collected the rebound.

Rorden then sliced through a gap in the defense for a driving layin, his

only field goal, with 42 seconds left.

Koeller, 2 for 12 from the field despite clutching up at the end of

regulation, hit again from beyond the arc with 28 seconds left to keep

the emotionally drained crowd in suspense.

Rorden was whistled for a charge in the backcourt on the ensuing

possession, but he made amends by intercepting a pass, then swishing two

foul shots with 10 ticks remaining.

Koeller missed an off-balance jumper from distance and Illingworth

snatched his game-high 13th rebound to send the home crowd home happy.

“It came down to being fundamentally sound and hitting our free throws at

the end,” Hirst said. “We always talk about winning our league games at

home and trying to steal one on the road. But it was Woodbridge which

nearly stole one tonight.”

“(Woodbridge) brings out the best in us,” said Yarnal, whose Sailors have

now beaten the Warriors six straight. But only one of those was decided

by more than four points, the nonleague meeting in December of 1998.

Woodbridge finished the half with a 13-2 run to seize a 26-18 advantage,

but, after the two teams traded baskets, Harbor exploded for 16 straight

third-quarter points -- 13 by Yarnal and Illingworth -- to go up, 36-28.

True to form, the Warriors responded with an 11-1 spurt to regain the

lead, before Yarnal drilled back-to-back three-pointers to put the hosts

back on top, 45-42.

Harbor hit 16 of 21 free throws, to just 3 of 9 for the visitors, which

helped the Tars overcome a 22-16 turnover disadvantage.

Melum had eight points, four rebounds and three blocks off the bench,

while Perrine (five) and Rorden (four) made their points count.

“Woodbridge was jumping around like it won the championship at the end of

regulation and our kids came back to the bench with their heads down,”

Hirst said. “So, for them to come out and do what they did in overtime,

says something about their character.

“This gives us room for error (in the league race); not that we’re

counting on any error,” said Hirst, in pursuit of the school’s first

league title since 1990, its first outright crown since ’85.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Sea View League

Newport Harbor 59, Woodbridge 57 (OT)

Score by Periods

Woodbridge 13 13 4 19 8 - 57

Newport Harbor 12 6 19 12 10 - 59

Woodbridge - Lambert 17, Forehan-Kelly 12, Koeller 9, Perkins 8, Harris

5, Tilton 2, Wallin 2, Reed 2.

3-pt. goals - Forehan-Kelly 2, Koeller 2, Harris 1, Lambert 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Newport Harbor - Illingworth 20, Yarnal 20, Melum 8, Perrine 5, Rorden 4,

Knutti 2, Reynolds 0, Murray 0.

3-pt. goals - Yarnal 3.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.