Tars fall against Bulldogs

Rick Devereux

A slow start seemed to work in favor of the Newport Harbor High boys

basketball team, but turnovers doomed the Sailors in the second half

of a 51-40 CIF Southern Section Division II-AA second-round game

against visiting Pasadena Tuesday.

Newport grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, but the Bulldogs went on an 8-0

run to gain the advantage. The Tars played tight defense to claw back

for an 11-10 lead 3:27 into the second quarter, but Pasadena, who

improved to 25-2, closed out the half with a 6-2 run for a 16-13

edge.

Those were the only two leads of the game for Newport Harbor

(17-10).

“We had pregame jitters,” Coach Larry Hirst said. “When we got

down, we started to press. And when an athlete starts to press, he

starts to make mistakes.”

The Sailors had turnovers on their first two possessions of the

second half as Pasadena, the No. 3 seed in the division, jumped out

to a 20-13 lead. Another Newport turnover lead to another Bulldog

basket to increase Pasadena’s lead to 24-15 three minutes into the

third quarter.

The Sailors got as close as 28-26 with less than 30 seconds left

in the third, but consecutive turnovers led to a 32-26 hole headed

into the fourth.

“We were our own worst enemies,” Hirst said. “Pasadena is a good

team, but we certainly didn’t do ourselves any favors.”

The fourth quarter continued where the third had left off -- with

Newport turnovers leading to Pasadena points.

Steals and errant passes led to layups and free throws for the

Bulldogs, who increased their lead to 40-30 with less than three

minutes left in the game.

“We had a lot of mental mistakes,” Hirst said. “After our 0-4

start, we went 17-5. The kids have come a long way. I thought we were

prepared to go further into the playoffs than this.”

Senior Taylor Young had a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds

for Newport Harbor, followed by Brett Perrine’s 10 points and six

rebounds.

CIF Division II-AA

Second round

Pasadena 51,

Newport Harbor 40

Score by Quarters

*--*

Pasadena 10 6 16 19 -- 51

Newport 5 8 13 14 -- 40

*--*

Pasadena -- Young 4, Harmon 6, Powell 7, Gant 12, Austin 22,

Phillips 0, D. Williams 0, Marshall 0, Dancer 0, Piepoli 0.

3-pt. goals -- None.

Newport -- Nasca 0, Orth 4, Perrine 10, Young 19, Slater 0, Koon

1, Heenan 6, Caldwell 0.

3-pt. goals -- Heenan 2.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.