Sailors bolstered by pair of transfers

Barry Faulkner

For starters, Torrey Pines transfers Brett and Todd Lowenthal, who

arrived on campus in early November, have brought a breath of fresh

air to the Newport Harbor High boys basketball team.

But by the time the Sea View League season rolls around, Brett, a

6-foot-6 junior forward, and Todd, a 6-0 freshman point guard, just

may be ready to send some serious wind into the Sailors’ sails.

“It’s hard to tell how much impact they’ll have, because they have

so much to learn,” said Coach Larry Hirst, entering his eighth season

at the helm. “But since they’ve come into our program, the energy

level has gone up in our practices.”

That energy level had dipped decisively after 6-foot-8 junior

Jaime Diefenbach tore an ACL in fall workouts, sidelining him for

what would have been his third varsity season.

Senior Nedim Pajevic, a 6-8 returning second-team all-league

performer, had been expected to play off Diefenbach’s presence in the

post. But he will now have to assume a much bigger role in the paint.

Hirst, however, considers Pajevic the least of his concerns,

following up a 20-7 season in which the Tars won their first outright

league title since 1985 and advanced to second round of the CIF

Southern Section Division II-AA Playoffs.

“It sure helps to have one of the better post guys in Orange

County,” Hirst said of Pajevic, who averaged 8.1 points playing in

the shadow of two-time All-CIF standout Tony Melum (now a freshman at

Colorado School of Mines). “As far as an all-around game, I think

you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t want Nedim on

their team. He can go inside, he can go outside and he loves to

rebound.”

Hirst said Pajevic is receiving recruiting interest from programs

such as New Mexico, Utah, San Diego State and the University of San

Francisco.

“The last two years he has been on varsity, he has never had to

carry the load,” Hirst said. “But we’ve got to put a lot more weight

on his shoulders this season. He’s going to have to do a little bit

of everything for us.”

Senior guard Chase Cameron, another returning starter, should

solidify a backcourt that, for the first time in three seasons, will

not include Greg Perrine. Perrine is now at Chapman University after

earning Sea View Player of the Year recognition last season.

The 6-foot, third-year varsity performer is one of several

perimeter sharpshooters, Hirst said, and has also shown a knack for

taking the ball to the basket. He averaged 4.8 points as a junior,

but could easily double that this season.

Andre Pinesett, who started at point guard last season while

Perrine missed the first eight games with a torn ACL, will also

contribute in the backcourt. A 6-0 junior, he averaged 2.2 points

last season.

Hirst expects 6-3 senior Nick Glassic to step into the defensive

stopper role handled the last two seasons by 2002 graduate Erik

Peterson.

“He should be the guy we can count on to stop the other team’s big

guard or forward, he’ll score some and he can rebound like crazy,”

Hirst said. Glassic scored 14 points in limited varsity action last

season.

Senior Sean Rorden, a dangerous three-point shooter, can bring

instant firepower off the bench, should he not wind up in the

starting five.

Brett Lowenthal, who has shown an effective midrange jumper, is

more polished offensively than defensively. Torrey Pines used a zone

defense almost exclusively, but Hirst prefers pressure man-to-man,

which could mean an extended adjustment.

Todd Lowenthal, whom Hirst said is exceptionally quick, could end

up running the show, if he is able to digest the Sailors’ offensive

and defensive schemes quickly enough.

If he is up to the challenge, the younger Lowenthal may take over

the point guard chores that have been handled by just two players the

last seven seasons. Matt Jameson, now a senior at Miami of Ohio, was

Hirst’s point man his first four seasons at the school and Perrine

took over as a sophomore.

Brett Perrine, Greg’s brother and a 6-3 sophomore, could also

provide some punch on the wing, while Jair Hernandez, a 6-5 senior,

should provide depth up front.

Senior Ben Soza, just joining the team after a standout football

season, will join senior Blake Hanley and junior Robert Hunter in

providing additional depth.

The Sailors, who open the season Dec. 5 at Back Bay rival Corona

del Mar, will spent late December in Minnesota, competing Dec. 26-30

in the St. Cloud Tournament.

“We’re fired up for that,” said Hirst, who believes Woodbridge is

the favorite to win the Sea View League that figures to be bolstered

by the addition of Foothill.