Boys basketball: Tars closing in

IRVINE - Visiting Newport Harbor High remained on track for the

school’s first Sea View League boys basketball title in a dozen years by

defeating Irvine, 52-39, Wednesday night.

Sailors senior Tony Melum led the win with 16 points, but exited early

in the third quarter with a bruised knee after colliding with teammate

Greg Perrine.

Newport Harbor Coach Larry Hirst said the knee bruise does not appear

to be severe.

Perrine, also a senior, did some damage to the opposition, as well,

scoring 13 points, including a trio of three-pointers.

Newport (18-5, 6-0 in league), which routed the Vaqueros, 87-47, the

first round of league, earned a 28-15 lead at halftime, which it extended

to 40-23 heading into the final period.

Erik Peterson chipped in 11 points for the winners, while senior Ben

Boyd was singled out by Coach Larry Hirst among a host of Harbor subs who

saw action.

The Tars can clinch at least a share of the Sea View crown with a win

over visiting Laguna Hills Friday.

Irvine fell to 0-6 in league.

BOYS

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Newport Harbor 52, Irvine 39

Score by Quarters

Newport Harbor 12 16 12 12 - 52 Irvine 6 9 8 16 - 39

Newport Harbor - Melum 16, Peterson 11, Pajevic 2, Perrine 13, Cameron

1, Diefenbach 6, Rorden 3, Diefenbach 6, Melgar 0, Tulley 0, Boyd 0,

Vandersloot 0, Louvier 0, Fortier 0, Pinesett 0, Glassic 0.

3-pt. goals - Perrine 3, Peterson 1, Rorden 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.

Irvine - Bradford 2, Johnson 6, Kuruvilla 10, Heider 3, Nguyen 3,

Zolner 5, Kanis 10.

3-pt. goals - Heider 1, Nguyen 1.

Fouled out - none.

Technicals - none.