Now it counts

Patrick Laverty

In Jen Thompson’s first year as girls basketball coach at Newport

Harbor High, the Sailors celebrated their first Sea View League

victory in 20 games as if they had won the CIF Southern Section

title.

Last season, Harbor more than doubled their victory total in the

Sea View League from Thompson’s first year, finishing 3-7.

Now in her third season, and with a program more established, the

expectations are so much more.

“This group seems to be very competitive,” Thompson said. “They

want to win. You can see it in their eyes.”

With an 8-6 record heading into league play, which begins when the

Sailors play host to Foothill tonight at 7, Harbor is already on its

way to a third consecutive year of improvement. And though they lost

to Foothill earlier this year, 65-54, their play served notice that

they won’t be a pushover this season.

“I think we surprised them a little bit with the way we played,”

Thompson said.

The Sailors’ play is dictated by balanced scoring among their

starting five, led by 5-foot-9 senior Victoria Swigart, averaging

11.6 points and leading the team in rebounding. Senior point guard

Jillianne Whitfield is averaging 9.2 points and junior guard Vanessa

Miller is scoring at a rate of 9.7 points per game. Junior Kristi

Eddington (7.6 points) and senior Allyson Stoltz (4.9 points) have

also been key contributors.

“I think we just need to play well as a team, coming out and

working together,” Thompson said. “We all need to be on the same

page.”

The favorite entering league play is Woodbridge (10-4), which is

led by 5-11 sophomore Jacqueline Erickson (11.6 points, 7.1 rebounds)

and 5-7 sophomore Emily Friedman (11.8 points).

Foothill (10-5), led by senior Jenna Horton (14.5 points), could

challenge for the league title. Aliso Niguel (5-9) could present

problems with its height, which includes 6-4 junior Bree Mannaert.

Irvine (5-7) and Laguna Hills (4-10) are going through transition

years, but could sneak up one some teams.

With its success in the month of December, the Sailors are hopeful

that their improvement can help them sneak into the top three spots

in league.

“I can definitely see that,” Thompson said. “I think this year we

have a better chance than the previous two seasons.”

*

In the Pacific Coast League, Northwood is the only team entering

league play with a winning record and that has Corona del Mar Coach

Jim Barkalow thinking the Sea Kings can compete for a top-three

finish.

“I think one-two are probably Northwood and University,” Barkalow

said. “That third spot is up for grabs and I’d like to think we have

a good shot at taking it.”

Corona del Mar has improved throughout its nonleague schedule and

will go into its league opener at Laguna Beach tonight at 7 with a

4-7 record and coming off a fifth-place finish at the Santiago

tournament.

Senior guard Kate Heeschen led the Sea Kings and was named an

all-tournament selection, but like Newport Harbor, CdM will rely on a

balanced scoring attack.

“I think it’s going to be balanced and to be honest, I prefer it

that way,” Barkalow said.

Heeschen, senior Sarah Stern, senior Lauren Snell and sophomore

Megan Benbow have all led the Sea Kings in scoring in games this

season. On a team where five sophomores contribute, CdM has been

further bolstered be the addition of another youngster, freshman

Allie Duernberger, who was recently called up from the junior varsity

team.

“I think our offensive system is in place,” Barkalow said.

“They’re OK on offense. Defensively, we’ve improved and we’re going

to steadily improve throughout the year and I think that is going to

help keep us in games.”

Northwood (9-5) and University (6-7), like Barkalow said, are

expected to compete for the top spot in league, but Barkalow believes

that even Northwood is beatable this season.

“I think a couple teams in the league might sneak up on them

because they’re still trying to learn their offense with their new

coach,” Barkalow said.

Laguna Beach (6-7), Calvary Chapel (6-9) and Tesoro (6-10) should

all battle with CdM to finish among the top three.