Tars hold off scrappy CdM

Barry Faulkner

Newport Harbor High junior Brett Lowenthal might have a few new

friends today.

The 6-foot-6 transfer from Torrey Pines at least has much more

visibility on campus after his long back-to-back jump shots in the

closing minutes helped the visiting Sailors rally for a 53-49

nonleague boys basketball victory over Back Bay rival Corona del Mar

in the season opener for both teams Thursday night.

Lowenthal, who said he had never been involved in a rivalry this

intense, nailed a 19-footer to tie the game at 47 with 2:33 left. He

then converted a Brett Perrine assist with a three-pointer from the

right wing with 2:21 left to give the Sailors an insurmountable 50-47

advantage.

The Sea Kings, who impressed more than their coach by building a

big lead, watching it vanish, then rallying again to forge ahead in

the waning minutes, closed to 50-49 on a Pancho Seaborn layup with 42

seconds left.

Nedim Pajevic, Newport Harbor’s 6-8 senior center who had worn

sagging Sea Kings like a second jersey all night, turned an entry

pass from Andre Pinsett into a layup to boost the lead to 52-49 with

20 seconds left.

CdM’s ensuing possession failed when Newport senior Nick Glassic

deflected a pass into the hands of teammate Chad Rorden, who sank one

free throw with six seconds left to finalize the scoring.

The victory was the Sailors’ third straight and the ninth in the

last 10 meetings with the Sea Kings, who still lead the 62-game

series 36-26. But, after Harbor blowout victories by 43 and 30 points

the last two seasons, scrappy CdM, under second-year coach Ryan

Curry, served notice that the gap has been closed.

“We showed we can play hard against Newport Harbor,” Curry said.

“And, now, (the Sailors) have to play hard against us.”

The Sea Kings, without a player taller than 6-foot-3, held Pajevic

to just three field goals the first three quarters and also defended

the perimeter with determination.

CdM’s defensive pressure and a pair of its seven three pointers,

helped the hosts seize leads of 13-2, 15-4 and 17-6, before they

upped the edge to 20-8 on a Jay Northridge three-pointer 102 seconds

into the second quarter.

Newport, however, answered with a 10-1 run that included

three-pointers by Perrine and Pinesett to close to within 21-18. Two

Pinesett free throws after time had expired, cut the CdM halftime

lead to 28-27 and the visitors opened the second half with a 13-5 run

to take apparent command. Lowenthal’s first three-pointer made it

40-33 Sailors with 1:17 left in the third quarter, but CdM wasn’t

done yet.

After Pajevic (a game-high 14 points) scored inside after blocking

a shot at the other end, it was 43-37 Harbor with 6:15 left. But a

10-0 Sea King run, including three-pointers by Seaborn and Bart

Welch, the latter capping the surge, put the hosts on top, 47-45.

Lowenthal finished with 12 points, while Pinesett added 10. Rorden

had three key offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter and added a

team-high four steals, while freshman Todd Lowenthal, Brett’s

brother, was 2 of 2 from the field and the line for six points.

Northridge led CdM with 11 points.

“CdM had a great game plan and it executed it,” Newport Harbor

Coach Larry Hirst said.

“I’m very, very proud of our effort,” Curry said. “But this is how

it has to be every game. This is the level of intensity and effort we

can play with. Now, it’s just a matter of getting better execution.”

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 53, CdM 49

Score by Quarters

Newport Harbor 6 21

13 13 -- 53

Corona del Mar 17 11

7 14 -- 49

Newport -- Glassic 2, Pinesett 10, Pajevic 14, Cameron

3, Rorden 1, B. Lowenthal 12, T. Lowenthal 6, Perrine 5, Soza 0.

3-pt. goals -- B. Lowenthal 2, Pinesett 1, Perrine 1.

Fouled out -- none.

Technicals -- none.

CdM -- Mancillas 3, Seaborn 8, Sherik-Odom 9, Matsen 2,

Northridge 11, Freede 9, Welch 7, Luce 0.

3 pt. goals -- Northridge 2, Seaborn 2, Mancillas 1, Sherick-Odom

1, Welch 1.

Fouled out -- Northridge.

Technicals -- none.