Sailors cruise into Sea View

The Newport Harbor boys’ basketball team hopes to carry its nonleague success into Sea View League action, which opens tonight.Newport Harbor High has had the most distinguished nonleague season of all the Newport-Mesa area boys’ varsity basketball teams.

The Sailors opened the season by defeating Back Bay rival Corona del Mar, 51-35, then took third place in the Newport Harbor Tournament. They concluded their nonleague schedule by reaching the championship game of the Bradshaw Mountain Tournament in Arizona before blowing out Golden Valley, 68-37.

Along the way, the Sailors registered big wins over La Serna (65-62) and Mira Costa (55-44), while giving powerhouse El Toro a run for its money in a 48-40 loss in the semifinals of the Bill Reynolds Classic.

Now the Sailors take their 12-2 record into the Sea View League.

When Newport Harbor opens league play at Woodbridge today at 7 p.m., the team unleash its newfound star, Dennis Heenan. The 6-foot-6 senior has been deadly from outside and is adept at taking the ball to the hoop.

Heenan has two 31-point games, a 28-point game and a 25-point game so far this season.

Guards Tony Yaghjian and Robert Koon have been Newport Harbor’s other most consistent scorers. Parker Stevens, Weston Dunlap and Ted Slater have been solid in the low post for the Sailors, who are holding teams to less than 50 points a game.

Before the season started, Newport Harbor Coach Larry Hirst said Woodbridge appeared to be the class of the Sea View League. With a 12-2 start, the Sailors should be right there with them battling for the Sea View League title.

Foothill (6-8), Laguna Hills (6-8) and Aliso Niguel (4-9) -- which lost all of its starters from last year’s league championship team -- can’t be counted out either.

Foothill’s Brett Spencer joins Heenan as one of the top scorers in the league. Spencer has 238 points, including 31 three-pointers.

Austin Daye is an inside-outside threat for Woodbridge, with 235 points, 16 three-pointers, 39 blocks and 122 rebounds. Woodbridge’s Jason McMillin leads the Sea View League in assists with 48 and steals with 24.

Newport Harbor’s Sea View League home opener is Jan. 11 against Foothill.200601062S1MMP2INo Caption