Tars’ Burger answers call

Talk about making waves.

Technically, Jimmy Burger was on the Newport Harbor High boys’ water polo team last year, although the senior spent much of the year on the junior varsity. But what better way to make an impression than in the Sailors’ first game of the season, against a tough opponent like Foothill?

Given the chance to shine with fellow senior Collin Sherman out sick, Burger ate it up.

He scored four goals and had two steals, leading Newport Harbor to a 9-8 victory over Foothill on Saturday at Newport Harbor in the season opener for both teams.

“I wasn’t really nervous,” Burger said. “We’ve been practicing enough of the stuff that would happen in the game. I thought I was well-prepared. Especially since we just got the new scoreboard and everything, the first game, we had to win.”

The game was preceded by a dedication ceremony for that new scoreboard, the Pat Sweeney Memorial Scoreboard. The high-tech scoreboard features a multicolored display that keeps track of goals and exclusions, and during warmups it showed a video feed of Newport in the pool getting ready for the game.

During player introductions, the Newport Harbor players’ faces, names and numbers were flashed on the screen.

“That was exciting,” Newport Harbor Coach Jason Lynch said.

But Lynch’s team, ranked No. 2 in the preliminary CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, came out a bit tentative. Although the coach said he didn’t want to use it as an excuse, the slow start was perhaps caused by all the excitement in the air with many Newport Harbor aquatics alumni in attendance.

“I think it was,” said Sailors senior Brandon Parole, who had two goals, two assists and five steals at set defense. “This game was all set up for the alumni. I think it put a little bit of pressure on us to win it for the alumni, for everything here. I think it definitely played into it.”

No. 7-ranked Foothill took a 3-1 lead midway through the second quarter as junior Paul Pickell scored the second of his game-high five goals.

The goal came after Nick Konishi’s shot was blocked, and Brenden Verloop’s follow was off the bar. Pickell was there for the rebound and easy score, giving the Knights some early momentum.

“We kept our composure the whole time, I don’t think we ever panicked,” Lynch said. “But we definitely made a series of errors, which cost us goals. It’s a good thing it’s early in the season, because we have some things to work on. We have a lot of things to work on, actually.”

Newport scored three straight goals — two on the power play from Brandon Parole at two meters — to earn a 4-4 tie at halftime. After Foothill took a 5-4 lead early in the third quarter, the Tars again scored three consecutive goals for a 7-5 lead after three quarters.

Two were scored by outside shooter Colin McKibbin, who fired away for long shots that found the back of the net.

“We really got pumped up for the third quarter,” Parole said. “We wanted to really take it right there.”

But, after Burger scored his third goal early in the fourth, it was Foothill’s turn to rally. The Knights scored three goals in just over two minutes, the last coming on Clayton McFadden’s long straightaway goal with the shot clock running down.

Newport’s Andy Hayes (one goal, two steals) then came up big. He stole the ball on Foothill’s next possession, then he fed Burger for the go-ahead goal with 2:02 left in the game.

“[Burger’s] been a role player, bench player, but he won the game for us today, quite honestly,” Lynch said. “He stepped it up big-time. It’s good to see that he has a lot of confidence in what he’s doing. It was a big opportunity for him, and he was ready when given the chance.”

Goalie Myles Christian (10 saves) had a key block on Pickell with 1:10 to go, helping Newport earn the close win.

Clinton Jorth had three assists for the Sailors.

BOYS’ WATER POLO

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 9, Foothill 8

SCORE BY QUARTERS

F – Pickell 5, Verloop 2, McFadden 1. Saves – Lovero 12.

NH – Burger 4, McKibbin 2, Parole 2, A. Hayes 1. Saves – Christian 10.