Boys basketball: Newport boys in driver’s seat

Barry Faulkner

While three Newport-Mesa District boys basketball teams have

battled it out for a spot in the Pacific Coast League’s top three,

Newport Harbor High has positioned itself to earn its first Sea View

League crown since 1990.

Coach Larry Hirst’s Sailors, 4-0 in league and ranked No. 9 in Orange

County and No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division II-AA, enter the

second round of league play Friday at last-place Irvine with a one-game

lead over second-place Woodbridge.

But a Jan. 19 nonleague loss to Estancia (0-4 in the PCL), as well as

narrow victories against Sea View foes Laguna Hills (45-40) and

Woodbridge (59-57 in overtime), have kept Harbor humble, according to

Hirst.

“We could have easily been 1-2 going into tonight’s game,” Hirst said

before Friday’s 69-54 win at Aliso Niguel. “We were fortunate to pull out

a couple on the road and now we have to take care of business at home in

the second half. We know it won’t be easy because now they’ll be gunning

for us.”

The Sailors have been paced by senior post Dustin Illingworth (14.5

points per game in league) and junior guard Aaron Yarnal (16.3 ppg in

league), but had four scorers in double figures for only the second time

all season against Aliso Niguel.

Senior Sean Rorden hit five three-pointers en route to a career-high 17

points, while sophomore point guard Greg Perrine chipped in 10 points

against the Wolverines.

The Tars handled Irvine, 66-50, at home in the league opener.

Meanwhile in the PCL, Costa Mesa and Estancia renew their cross-town

rivalry Friday at Estancia, while Corona del Mar visits Laguna Beach.

Laguna Beach emerged tied with University (both at 3-1) atop the league

standings after the first round, but questions regarding the eligibility

of the Artists’ 6-foot-10 senior center Chris Manker loom. If an ongoing

CIF investigation rules Manker was ineligible, Laguna Beach would forfeit

those three wins and face an uphill battle in the second half.

The Sea Kings, tied for third place with Costa Mesa after edging the

Mustangs in overtime Friday at home, visit Saddleback tonight in a

nonleague contest.

CdM lost to Laguna Beach, 61-52, in the first round.

Mesa ended a 30-game losing streak to Estancia with a 58-50 overtime home

win Jan. 7, but enters Friday’s clash on a two-game losing skid.

Estancia, however, is looking for its first league win.

“It’s not like we’re 0-4 and out of it,” Estancia Coach Rich Boyce said.

“We could easily be 3-1 or 2-2. We’ve beaten some good teams this year,

like Woodbridge and Newport Harbor. We could have beaten Marina (No. 5 in

the county) and we were ahead of (No. 8) Santa Margarita in the last two

minutes (Saturday). That just shows you how tough the PCL is. If we get a

bounce or two our way, we could finish among the league leaders.”