Prep column: Morris’ return requires plenty of pull

Barry Faulkner

Faced with a little unexpected down time, after breaking his wrist

in the seventh boys basketball game of the season, Corona del Mar High

senior Brooks Morris took the opportunity to improve his magnetism.

His self-improvement sessions, however, had nothing to do with

personality. Rather, Morris’ father, Brooks Sr., dished out $300 for six

hours of increasingly popular magnetic therapy on his son’s left

(shooting) wrist.

The younger Morris, who returned two weeks ahead of schedule to score 14

points in two games last week, isn’t sure if Mission Viejo’s Advanced

Magnetic Research Institute deserves the credit. But he did not discount

the unorthodox rehabilitation ritual, either.

Regardless of the cause, Coach Paul Orris and his Sea Kings are thrilled

to add a potent offensive weapon for the Pacific Coast League stretch

drive.

Morris, who missed 13 games, averaged 11.3 points per game prior to the

injury. He scored four points in limited minutes in a nonleague win over

Saddleback Wednesday, then came off the bench to add 10 points, including

two three-pointers, in Friday’s PCL setback at Laguna Beach.

“I can’t even explain how good it feels to be back out there,” said

Morris, who claims he also utilized his sideline sabbatical to improve

his skill level with his right hand.

“Actually, I’ve developed a little jumper with my right hand, so

something positive may have come out of all this,” Morris said.

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The Estancia High softball program is hoping something positive comes out

of junior Joanna Danner’s return to the school, after a brief stint at

Pacific High last fall.

The Newport-Mesa District Softball Player of the Year last season, Danner

threw four no-hitters, including a perfect game, to lead the Eagles to

their first postseason berth since 1992.

Danner’s mother, Cathy, said last week that her daughter is taking a

break from club softball and had not yet decided whether she would play

for Estancia this spring.

Recently hired first-year coach Jenny Hart will attempt to sell Danner on

the idea of dominating opposing hitters, once again.

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Corona del Mar High senior girls volleyball standout Jamie Brownell, as

well as Newport Harbor senior boys water polo stalwart Brendan Hansen,

have both committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at

Stanford.

Both are invited walk-ons in their respective sports.

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Newport Beach’s Sage Hill School, scheduled to open next fall, was

recently granted membership in the CIF Southern Section.

The nondenominational private school, which expects to have 125 freshmen

and between 50 and 75 sophomores for its inaugural year -- and an

expected eventual maximum enrollment of around 500 -- plans to offer

competition in numerous sports.

The lineup, according to Elizabeth Resnick, the academic dean and

director of services, includes football, boys and girls basketball,

baseball, boys and girls volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and

girls track and field, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls

tennis, boys and girls water polo, boys and girls golf, boys and girls

swimming and diving, softball and coed badminton.

Resnick said focus groups are currently working on naming the school

mascot.