Sailors watch it fade away

Barry Faulkner

Most would agree that the turning point in the Sea View League boys

basketball title showdown Wednesday between host Newport Harbor High

and Woodbridge came when 6-foot-9 Sailor center Nedim Pajevic fouled

out with 4:22 left.

But that surely wouldn’t be he whole story behind the Warriors’

59-54 triumph, a victory worthy of a championship team (21-5, 9-1 in

league), ranked No. 6 in Orange County and No. 5 in CIF Southern

Section Division II-AA.

Because, even before Pajevic picked up his final three fouls

within a span of 3:11 in the final period, a thunderous two-handed

slam dunk by 6-10 Woodbridge junior David Burgess awakened the

singular force that swept a repeat title from the Sailors.

Burgess, 2 of 12 from the field before the dunk, with 3:12 left in

the third quarter, scored 26 of his team’s final 32 points. He

finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. He hit 9

of his final 10 field-goal tries, netted 8 of his last 9 free throws

and finished with 20 fourth-quarter points to rescue the visitors,

after Newport opened a 37-24 advantage with 4:24 left in the third

period.

“Considering the magnitude of the situation, this was David’s best

game,” said Woodbridge Coach John Halagan, who was anxious to afford

as much praise to the second-place Tars (16-9, 8-2) as his Goliath

post man.

“Obviously, the turning point came when Pajevic (who finished with

16 points and 14 rebounds) fouled out,” Halagan said. “He and David

had a great battle. But when (Pajevic) left the game, we knew we

could get the ball inside. We expect David to show up at crunch time.

“But give Newport credit. My gosh, (the Sailors) played a great

game. They had us down by double digits, which had more to do with

the way they were playing than us being inefficient. But we were able

to batten down the hatches and get busy. We know Newprot Harbor will

represent the Sea View League well in the (Division II-AA) playoffs.

Who knows, maybe we can do this again in the Pond (the site of the

II-AA title game).”

The likelihood of a third Woodbridge-Newport Harbor clash was

diminished, however, by what could be a serious knee injury sustained

by junior Sailor guard Andre Pinesett. Pinesett’s left leg crumpled

underneath him while he was collecting a long rebound with 2:27 left

in the third quarter and he was unable to put weight on the leg as he

was helped off the floor.

“I’m not a doctor or a trainer, but it didn’t sound good,” Newport

Coach Larry Hirst said of Pinesett’s discription of the injury.

“He said his whole knee gave out,” assistant Bryan Cottriel said.

The Sailors lost 6-8 junior Jamie Diefenbach to a torn ACL in fall

workouts and lost sophomore part-time starter Brett Perrine suffered

the same injury Friday at Alison Niguel.

“Just to see our guys battle through the adversity of losing

Brett, then Andre, then Nedim ... I couldn’t ask for anything more,”

Hirst said. “To stay within striking distance of the league

champions, without those bodies, was just a gutsy performace by our

kids.”

Despite Burgess’ late domination and the aforementioned Sailor

personnel shortage, Newport maintained its lead until 6-6 senior

Chris Boldig drove for a layin to put the visitors up, 53-52, with

2:33 left.

Newport twice had possession with the chance to tie it with a

three-pointer in the final minute, but a 16-foot jumper came up short

and a driving layup attempt was blocked, then collected by Burgess.

Burgess, who had made a layup to draw the Warriors within 52-51, then

followed Boldig’s bucket with a putback on a possession he started

with a steal, to increase the lead to 55-52.

Burgess made four foul shots in the final 16 seconds to cement the

victory, forcing Newport to accept its fifth second-place Sea View

finish in the last six seasons.

In addition to Pajevic, Harbor senior guards Chase Cameron (15

points), and Sean Rorden (13, including two big second-half

three-pointers) played well.

Senior forward Nick Glassic added four points and eight rebounds

off the bench.

Cameron scored six pointd and Pajevic four in a 12-0 Sailor run

early in the third, to produce the 13-point cushion.

But the Warriors and Burgess came all the way back.