Girls basketball: Tars bid to end streak

In recent years’ a Sea View League home has been where the

heartache is for the Newport Harbor High girls basketball team.

This season, however, the circuit boasts only two winning teams,

providing hope that the Sailors can end their 16-game league losing

streak.

Woodbridge (12-2), ranked No. 3 in last week’s Orange County poll, is,

once again, the clear-cut favorite.

Aliso Niguel enter’s Tuesday night’s league opener against visiting

Newport Harbor with a 9-6 record, while Irvine (6-7) and Laguna Hills

(5-10) are teams the Sailors (3-13) can firmly set their sights on.

Among those taking aim on avoiding a third straight last-place finish

will be Harbor sophomore Jillianne Whitfield, who leads first-year coach

Jen Thompson’s offense with a 9.3 scoring average.

Senior Evita Castillo (7.1 points per game), junior Athena Vasquez

(5.9 ppg) and 6-foot- junior Lindsey Woller (5.0 ppg) are additional

scoring threats for the Sailors, who are coming off a 44-41 nonleague win

over Tustin.

The Tars host Irvine Jan. 10, then visit Laguna Hills Jan. 15, before

finishing the first round with a home date against Woodbridge, Jan. 17.

-- by Barry Faulkner