BASKETBALL:

Jeff Fryer is no spring chicken.

Sporting a bald spot and a few extra pounds, the former Loyola Marymount sharpshooter, one of many legendary figures in the history of Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball, ensured a week of soreness by putting himself through a handful of 30-minute fullcourt games Saturday in the 20th annual Jack Errion Corona del Mar Basketball Alumni Tournament.

And though Fryer has lost a step, he has not misplaced his three-point range, as he sank two 20-foot jumpers in the face of defenders in the title game that his team eventually lost to a squad of 1999 graduates.

One of those three-pointers came while being fouled, evoking a judgmental comment from one of the 1999 players seated on the bench, before Fryer stepped to the free-throw line to complete the four-point play.

“That was a miracle,” said the member of the eventual tournament champions, to which myself and CdM Coach Ryan Schachter, seated alongside, chimed in unison, “Not with that guy shooting.”

Watching Fryer cascade his high-arching rainbows through the rim, or more correctly the net since the rim was only peripherally involved, brought back a flood of memories for me. My first experience covering Newport-Mesa sports was during the 1985-86 school year, when Fryer was pouring in points as a Sea Kings senior.

Had I known then that there would be scant few talents as transcendent as the one Fryer possessed, I might have appreciated those days even more. As it was, I relished every assignment as a fledgling reporter looking to maintain the connection with sports that began for me about the same time I could hoist a basketball over the rim.

To my great fortune, I have followed that passion, as well as Newport-Mesa sports, going on 25 years now. Cruising through the pair of gyms needed for the 14 teams competing Saturday to survive pool play, then the playoffs, I came across dozens of athletes I’ve covered for the Daily Pilot.

Typically on vacation when the annual tournament is held, I had been to only one CdM alumni tournament prior (2006) and I was, that day, splitting time between that event and the Newport Harbor tournament that began 12 years after the Sea Kings started their competitive reunions.

Now, blessed with a couple uninterrupted hours to watch the action, I also had time to shake hands, catch up and reminisce with scores of participants. I needed help recalling some of the names, but I remembered most of the faces, as well as the images of them competing, which their parents had long since clipped and saved from Daily Pilots past.

Justin Shea and Nate Lemmerman, who helped the 1999 squad win its first tournament crown, offered a handshake and a greeting, as did tournament director Rob Hess and his brother, Mike Hess, who starred at UC Irvine.

Among the others happy to say hello were Kevin Welch, Chris Quinn, Markus Muller-Stach, J.R. Walz, Evan Burden. Eric Glass, and Jon Upham. Casey Jones, whose games at USC I had watched on late-night black-and-white television as a teen, was kind enough to give me a rundown of his 1970s team roster.

Jones, by the way, can still give fellow alums half his age all they can handle.

Fryer said he looks forward to the event every year, though the physical toll worsens every time.

“The further you go [in the bracket], the longer you need to recover,” said Fryer, who credits Rob Hess for keeping the tradition alive.

“Rob makes a lot of calls and rallies people,” Fryer said.

And what a tradition it is. It would not be a stretch to state that no prep program in America has such a long-standing annual event, at which parents, some now retired, wives and children gather to support their favorite players.

I’d have to say they are some of my favorites, as well.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.