Tars gored by El Toro

COSTA MESA -- A tribute can mean more than victory. In the case of

Newport Harbor High boys basketball coach Larry Hirst, it’s the

journey that will last over the end result.

“We were willing to give away home-court advantage for the

experience of playing on this floor,” Hirst said, referring to the

hardwood at Vanguard University, formerly Southern California

College, where Hirst and El Toro Coach Todd Dixon played their

collegiate ball.

In the championship finals of the Bill Reynolds Tournament,

Dixon’s Chargers defeated Hirst’s Sailors, 57-44, on neutral ground

at VU.

With a big fourth quarter, revved up El Toro (7-0) pulled away

from Newport Harbor and handed the designated hosts their first loss

of the season in five games.

The Chargers outscored the Sailors, 20-10, in the last eight

minutes, including a 9-2 scoring run in the final two minutes.

Newport Harbor senior guard Chase Cameron’s uncontested layup in the

final second ended his team’s scoring drought of nearly 2:45.

The Sailors, who led at times in the first half, trailed all of

the second half, but crept to within 44-40 when 6-foot-6 junior Brett

Lowenthal drained a short jump shot with 4:39 remaining on an assist

by his brother, freshman guard Todd Lowenthal. But El Toro pulled

away and the Sailors never got closer.

“It was a hard-fought game between two good Orange County high

school basketball teams,” said Dixon, whose team did not commit a

turnover in the fourth quarter, while shooting 8 of 13 from the

field, led by tournament MVP Patrick Carney (15 points).

Newport Harbor, led by all-tournament selection Cameron (13

points) and 6-8 center Nedim Pajevic (11), rallied in the first

quarter to take a 17-14 lead, after trailing, 6-0.

The Tars, who led by one point at first quarter’s end, were tied

with El Toro at 23 in the second quarter after Pajevic’s layup to

complete a fast break with 3:09 left. But the Chargers went ahead on

6-5 forward Matt Claflin’s free throw and maintained an advantage the

rest of the way.

“I give El Toro credit,” said Hirst, whose team struggled from the

field, going 15 of 40 (37.5%). “We didn’t shoot the ball well and

that’s a testament to El Toro’s pressing defense.”

The Sailorsshot only 3 of 12 from the field in the second quarter

as El Toro built a 29-25 intermission lead.

Claflin, an all-tournament choice, also led El Toro with 13

points, nine rebounds (five offensive), two blocked shots and two

assists. Guard Jonathan Johnson scored a game-high 16 points with a 7-of-9 shooting performance.