Sailors’ Back Bay victory double sweet

Chris Yemma

The Newport Harbor High girls basketball team opened its season with

a double win.

The visiting Sailors defeated Corona del Mar, 43-39, to notch

their first win of the season, and, for extra spice, it came against

their Back Bay rival.

Newport led from the moment four-year guard Vanessa Miller hit the

first shot of the game -- a three-pointer in the opening seconds --

and never relented its lead for the remainder.

The Sea Kings (0-2) cut a 10-point Newport lead down to five in

the final minutes, but were never able to recover from a third

quarter in which the Sailors outscored them, 11-5.

“I think the third quarter was kind of an indicator as to how the

rest of the game was going,” CdM Coach Scott Kahawai said. “They did

a really good job of taking us out of that running game by playing

good, solid defense.”

The Sailors’ defense forced CdM to shoot just 26 percent from the

field in the Sea Kings’ home opener. Newport’s Miller had a game-high

18 points before fouling out with 5:58 remaining in the game.

CdM was down, 39-30, when Miller fouled out and the Sea Kings

tried to take advantage of the opportunity. The lead was cut to four

after junior Megan Benbow drove the lane and was fouled after her

attempted shot. Benbow hit her first free throw to cut the lead to

41-37 with 27 seconds remaining.

She missed her second free throw, but the Sea Kings got the

offensive rebound for one last chance. Back-to-back CdM shots were

missed, though, and the Sailors walked out with the win.

“It’s always pretty huge to come out and win against CdM,” Sailor

Coach Jen Thompson said. “But I think we can play a lot better. We

have some things we need to work on.”

Miller, who averaged 10 points a game last season, is going to be

the role player for the Sailors this season, Thompson said. Miller

finished shooting 6 for 17 from the field with one three-point shot.

There was some controversy when Miller fouled out.

“They gave her one of Ivy [Melo’s] fouls,” Thompson said. “So,

they had her with five fouls when she only had four. That kind of

hurts us because she’s a big threat for us.”

Junior Kristina Wayte lead the Sea Kings, hitting 4 of 10 from the

field for 14 points. Benbow went 4 of 6 for nine points.

The Sea Kings play at Dana Hills today at 7 p.m., while Newport

plays at University today at 5 p.m.

*--*

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 43, Corona del Mar 39

Score by Quarters

Newport 15 12 11 5 -- 43

CdM 10 13 5 11 -- 39

Newport -- Deyan 0, Melo 4, Miller 18,

Munnelly 8, Slater 3, Lawrence 5, Trobman 3,

Bodkin 2. 3-pt. goals -- Miller 1, Slater 1.

Fouled out -- Miller. Technicals -- None. CdM

-- Benbow 9, K. Wayte 14, Marks 3, Wadhwa 0,

Duernberger 3, Long 1, Schulte 3, Johnson 6.

3-pt. goals -- None. Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

*--*