Prep column: Something special in reserve

Barry Faulkner

The Newport Harbor High boys basketball team would obviously not

have become only the school’s fourth 20-game winner without its primary

seven- or eight-man rotation.

But, perhaps, one should wonder where the Sailors would be without

their axis, a group of eight seniors and one junior who help Coach Larry

Hirst’s 17-man roster lead the county in high fives, good-natured gibes

and road-trip head counts.

“Having 17 guys is a little unusual,” admits Hirst of his extended

bench, which includes more players who play sparingly than those who are

typically mentioned in the team’s newspaper articles.

“A lot of my coaching buddies cringe when they hear I have 17 guys,

but it’s just a first-class group,” Hirst said. “There were plenty of

chances during the summer, the preseason and times in between, when they

could have said to themselves ‘This just isn’t worth it.’ But no one did

and that’s why I decided to keep them around. They all have great

character and they want to be involved in the experience. There is no

complaining or moping from any of them, ever. There is not a cancer among

them.”

There is, however, rare perspective and unrelenting positivity, which

pervades every aspect of team life.

“Everyone has a role and, for some, it’s comic relief,” Hirst said.

“When some guys on the team get down, there is always someone there to

encourage them or try to inject some humor. I walk into the locker room

sometimes before a big game and kids are all on the floor laughing.

That’s just not the way things are supposed to be, but they can’t help

it. It’s not like stand-up at the Improv, but we’ve never been tight for

a game, I can tell you that much.”

Seniors Ben Boyd, Lu Castillo, Ross Fortier, Dane Louvier, Drew

Melgar, Jim Rothwell, Collin Tully and Jon Vandersloot, as well as junior

Nic Glassic, form the supporting cast, of which eighth man Chad Rorden, a

junior, could be considered a fringe member. Boyd, a 6-6 senior, has come

dangerously close to playing too often to be included.

And though the bench brigade has combined for 65 points this season,

roughly two layups more than the Sailors are averaging per game, all nine

members have posted points.

Fortier, by the way, currently holds ultimate bragging rights, having

buried a pair of three-pointer in a Jan. 11 Sea View League home win over

Irvine to earn the group’s single-game high: six points.

Hirst said he has structured practices to avoid stratification between

those who play and those who don’t.

“I think one reason there remains so much positive energy with this

group is that we very seldom pit the first string against the second in

practice,” Hirst said. “In our competitive drills we mix the kids up and

most of the time when we scrimmage, the two teams on the floor have only

two starters. I think it build camaraderie when the first team isn’t

always beating on the second team. I remember those days myself. I was

fourth string.”

Hirst played 12 players in the Sailors’ 79-68 first-round CIF Southern

Section Division II playoff win over Loara Friday, but Rothwell may have

personified the reserves’ willingness to contribute, without ever taking

off his warmups.

With 3:36 left in the game, a collision knocked players to the floor,

leaving a wet spot. Rather than simply throw a towel out, Rothwell

sprinted from the bench to the lane, dropped to a knee and quickly

scrubbed up the excess moisture, to the howls of the student rooting

section.

Rothwell, an All-Sea View League and All-Newport-Mesa District

defensive end for the league champion football team last fall, then

sprinted back to his courtside seat, trying as best he could to contain a

broadening grin.

With the Newport-Mesas girls basketball season officially concluded, I

wanted to pass along well-deserved kudos to Dulcie Kawata, the mother of

senior CdM guard Courtney Kawata.

Dulcie produced what may be the single most entertaining prep program

I’ve ever seen for this season’s Sea Kings. Funny and informative, the

48-page publication was clearly a labor of love.