Girls’ Basketball: Sea Kings win bragging rights

NEWPORT BEACH — Both the Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar girls’ basketball teams have had their struggles this season.

But when the rivals match up in the “Battle of the Bay,” as they did Saturday at Corona del Mar High School, there’s always something worth playing for, even if it’s simply bragging rights.

In this latest edition of the rivalry, it was the Sea Kings who get to brag, coming away with a 45-33 victory.

The Sea Kings took advantage of long scoring droughts by the Sailors.

“It’s always fun beating them just because that is how it goes with rivals,” CdM coach Brason Alexander said. “It’s a little extra special.”

CdM’s five starters accounted for 40 of the 45 points.

Center Tatiana Bruening led the Sea Kings with 11 and Tia Grippo scored seven of her 10 points from the free-throw line.

Lexi Alvarez led the Sailors with 13.

After a close first quarter in which neither team had an advantage, the Sea Kings opened the second on a 9-1 run to go ahead 19-12.

Jensen Coop’s basket put the Sea Kings (3-16) ahead by nine midway through the second quarter, their biggest lead of the game to that point.

After leading 25-17 at the half, Samantha Uehara’s 3-pointer at the start of the third gave the Sea Kings their first double-digit lead.

The Sailors (7-13) only managed a pair of free throws over a five-minute stretch in the quarter, enabling CdM to take a 36-19 lead with just under three minutes remaining.

Ashleigh McPhie’s basket with 2:45 left was the first basket from the field for Newport Harbor in the quarter, sparking a 6-2 run for the Sailors to close out the quarter.

The Sea Kings led 40-27 early in the fourth, when a 3-pointer from Hannah Hiromoto, followed by a pair of free throws by Taylor Howard got the Sailors to within eight for the first time since the opening quarter.

CdM got cold in the fourth, but the Sailors experienced another long drought themselves, missing out on a chance to get back in the contest.

The Sea Kings only scored seven points in the final frame, while the Sailors managed just six.

“It got a little funky,” said Alexander of the final quarter.

Newport Harbor coach Jillian Blackledge said her team has had a difficult time scoring for much of the season.

“You’ve got to put the ball in the basket,” Blackledge said.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 45, Newport Harbor 33

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Newport Harbor 11 – 6 –10 – 6 — 33

Corona del Mar 10– 15 – 13 – 7 — 45

NH – L. Alvarez 13, Nacho 2, A. Alvarez 9, Howard 2, Hiromoto 3, Quinonez 2, McPhie 2.

3-pt. goals – L. Alvarez 1, Hiromoto 1.

Fouled out – A. Alvarez

Technicals – None.

CdM – Coburn 3, Halafuka 7, Huehara 8, Grippo 10, Beador 4, Coop 2, Bruening 11.

3-pt. goals – Coburn 1, Huehara 1, Grippo 1.

Fouled out – None

Technicals – None