Boys’ Basketball: Newport Harbor freshmen perfect with 24-0 season
The Newport Harbor High freshman boys’ basketball team hit some adversity on Feb. 3 at Huntington Beach. The Sailors trailed by 17 points at halftime.
Coach Mike Ofer gave his team a simple directive: “We have to be who we are.”
Newport Harbor rallied to set up a dramatic victory, as forward Will Harvey knocked down the game-winning three-pointer from the corner with two seconds left. The big shot lifted the Sailors to a 58-56 win. It was Newport Harbor’s first lead of the game.
The huge triumph was a part of the Sailors’ remarkable 24-0 season.
It is believed to be the first undefeated season for a Newport Harbor boys’ basketball team on any level.
The Newport Harbor freshmen secured the perfect season with an outright Sunset League championship on Thursday night when they beat Edison, 50-25. The Chargers entered the game 9-1 in league.
“It’s a very impressive way to finish off a great season,” Ofer said. “We were 14-0 going into league. We had a feeling we would be good. We had beaten [Corona del Mar] twice. We thought we had a good chance [to be undefeated]. We bought into the team aspect. With 17 kids on the team, they all contributed in their own way. It’s a unique group.”
Dayne Chalmers, a 6-foot-3 center who is the son of NHHS baseball coach Evan Chalmers, led the Sailors as their top scorer. Point guard Sam Barela, who plays quarterback in football, was also a key player.
Elijah Fiery and Brandon Figueroa, who both played wing, were big-time factors in the starting lineup, as well.
Chris Loucks, Cam Norris, Jose Albarron, Jackson Dugan, Garret Gritzmacher, Max Pickup, Lantz Bell, Gabe Galdamez, Ronin Reid, Rett Gibbs, Brian Bailey and James McConnaughey also played a part in the Sailors’ undefeated season.
“We knew in the summertime that we had a good freshman team,” said Ofer, a Newport Harbor alumnus who is in his fourth year. “[Varsity Coach Bob Torribio] said, ‘You can probably go 21-3.’ I remember thinking that was lofty … We won all three of our tournaments, Bolsa Grande, La Mirada and Northwood … The future of the program looks bright because we had a 21-6 JV team [coached by Earl Wright].”
Perhaps the Sailors will continue to build off the varsity’s stellar season. Newport Harbor (21-7) tied for second place in the Sunset League. The Sailors finished 6-4 in league with a 61-51 win at home that ended a 15-game losing streak to Edison.
The Sailors, who will learn who they play against in the playoffs on Sunday, are the seventh Newport Harbor team to record 20 wins.
