Girls basketball: Tars break 20-game league losing streak

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High girls basketball team

rocked the house and ended its 20-game Sea View League losing streak with

a 46-44 win over visiting Aliso Niguel Thursday night.

Sophomore Jillianne Whitfield led the Sailors with a career-high 21

points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while junior Athena Vasquez scored 14

points, including 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.

“(Whitfield) was driving to the basket and taking the ball up strong,”

Newport Coach Jen Thompson said. “She just played awesome. She always

gives 100%. She was outstanding. She was all over the court. She had just

one turnover.”

The Sailors (4-17, 1-4 in league) answered a 21-15 halftime deficit by

outscoring the Wolverines, 30-23, in the second half, which included a

20-point fourth quarter for the hosts.

“They were all very excited,” Thompson said of her Tars. “The bench

was pumped up. The players were on the floor pumped up. Everyone was into

the game. They all knew we were still in the game and came out in the

second half and scored 31 points. They knew they could win. The bench was

incredible tonight, with their shouting out encouragement and the

offensive plays. Everyone contributed to this win.”

Thompson also mentioned the Sailors shot 10 of 14 from the foul line

in the fourth quarter, as junior Amanda Campbell, Whitfield and Vasquez

each went 2 for 2 down the stretch.

Campbell hit a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

Newport senior Evita Castillo and junior Lindsey Woller contributed by

grabbing eight rebounds each.

The Sailors committed 13 turnovers, an improvement from their average

of 20-plus, Thompson said.

“The fans were incredible for us, too,” Thompson said. “The

fourth-quarter free throws were great. With two seconds left and Harbor

up, 46-43, (Aliso) shot three free throws and made the first one, but

missed the second two.”

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Newport Harbor 46, Aliso Niguel 44

Aliso Niguel 6 15 8 15 - 44

Newport Harbor 9 6 11 20 - 46

Aliso Niguel - Young 3, Perez 13, Lutes 0, Brown 6, Stoddard 2, H.

Habkost 10, Saiz 6, A. Habkost 2, Ritorto 2.

3-pt. goals - Perez 2, Young 1, Brown 1, Stoddard 1.

Fouled out - Stoddard, Saiz, A. Habkost.

Technicals - none.

Newport Harbor - Swigart 0, Whitfield 21, Miller 3, Castillo 1,

Vasquez 14, Campbell 5, Woller 2, Stoltz 0, Rangel 0.

3-pt. goals - Whitfield 2, Campbell 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.