Virgen: Special team captures state championship

Competing in youth all-star tournaments in any sport can be challenging for a number of reasons. In basketball, the biggest obstacle, perhaps, is coming together as a team in such a short amount of time.

Many of the all-star teams end up relying on one phenomenal player, but the Newport-Mesa National Junior Basketball third-graders, who began playing together about six weeks ago, embraced the team concept. There was plenty of talent, but these all-stars also united. They placed as great of importance on defense as they did on offense.

They were also typical kids and just had fun together.

As a result, the 10 boys from the Newport-Mesa area are state champs after winning the two-day NJB California Championship Tournament that ended on Sunday in Hanford, Calif.

Joaquin Rigdon, Bode Stefano, Nolan Payne, Ganon Overfelt, Jack Berry, Jaxon Guyser, Miles Pluma, Brogan Glenn, Cameron Martin and Hays Hopkins. Remember their names. They could be future stars in Orange County.

“It was unbelievable,” said head coach Dylan Rigdon, a former Mater Dei and University of Arizona player, who was assisted by Jason Guyser. “They are such a great group. They are so enthusiastic and eager to learn. It was a really good group of kids who bonded and they really liked playing basketball with each other. They enjoyed being with each other on and off the court.”

The Newport-Mesa All-Stars’ attention to defense proved to be helpful in the championship game of the state tournament. Two teams from Orange County slugged it out for the state crown in Hanford, as the title game also featured Tustin.

Dylan Rigdon says Tustin had a sharpshooter who was doing his best Stephen Curry impersonation, knocking down several outside shots during the game. With Tustin trailing by three points with about five seconds left, it went to its little hoopster acting like the NBA MVP who launched a three-point shot attempt, hoping to tie the game.

However, Newport-Mesa All-Star Cameron Martin timed his jump perfectly to block the shot and sent the ball about 10 feet behind the half-court circle. Martin kept his momentum going and he caught up to the ball to drive in for the easy layup. Ball game. Championship. Newport-Mesa 52, Tustin 47.

The win completed a 9-0 run in all-star competition for the Newport-Mesa NJB All-Stars and it was the chapter’s first third-grade state title since 2011, the head coach said.

“I was just thinking that if they score that three-pointer they would tie the game,” the 4-foot-11 center Cameron said of blocking the late three-pointer. “I just jumped and slapped the ball. It was going forward, and it just landed and I got a layup.”

Cameron explains the highlight-reel play rather simply, but he said several people told him after the game that the block was amazing.

Cameron had a busy day when I got him on the phone on Wednesday, as he competes in basketball, soccer and flag football. I caught him after a AYSO Extra practice when he was en route to flag football practice in Huntington Beach.

Cameron, who attends The Pegasus School in HB, is in the habit of winning. The Friday Night Lights flag football team he’s on is undefeated.

He enjoyed his time on his championship basketball team.

“I didn’t know half of them [before the team was formed], but now they are pretty good friends,” he said. “They have good personalities and they were really nice. They don’t criticize people.”

All 10 kids from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa have a story of their own, but mostly filled with tons of activity. They all have their own unique personality, too. A bunch of characters.

That kid you see out in front in the obligatory team celebration photo is the coach’s son. Joaquin Rigdon. He’s not shy.

“He usually does that,” Joaquin’s dad says.

Joaquin was also the one who calmly put away the two free throws that forced Tustin to attempt the late three-pointer that Cameron swatted.

Dylan Rigdon said he knew he had a special group when the all-stars came together and saw each of the players’ contributions throughout the nine victories.

Bode Stefano, Jack Berry, Brogan Glenn, Hays Hopkins and Nolan Payne were strong players for the team.

“The boys were the true definition of a team,” Dylan Rigdon said. “All 10 boys contributed significantly. When one group of five was a little off, the other group of five would pick up the slack, and vice versa.”

The state tournament included the best third-grade all-star teams from NJB chapters throughout California, from San Diego to San Jose.

The Newport-Mesa All-Stars qualified for the tournament by winning its first five games. They began with victories against Irvine and San Clemente. They also went undefeated in the state qualifying tournament, beating San Clemente, Huntington Beach and Los Alamitos.

Those wins put Newport-Mesa in the top division of the state tournament, where the 10 boys beat San Jose and Visalia in pool play on Saturday. They then took down a tough La Mirada team to advance to the championship game.

There wasn’t much to do for a celebration party in Hanford, Dylan Rigdon said. So, the kids just hung out in the gym and soaked it all in. They received championship sweatshirts. They wanted to personalize each and imprint their numbers and names on them because they knew it was such a special time.

“It was pretty cool,” Dylan Rigdon said.

Pretty cool, indeed.