CdM prevails in physical Battle of the Bay

By Andrew TurnerStaff Writer

Jan. 20, 2018 10:20 PM PT

In nearly every rivalry game, it would behoove the participants to be ready to hit the ground running.

The Battle of the Bay girls’ basketball game offered its amendment to that statement — be ready to hit the ground.

A physical game was played between the two Newport Beach rivals, one that saw nearly as many whistles as possessions at times.

In a knockdown, drag-out affair, Corona del Mar High emerged with a 54-39 win over host Newport Harbor in the teams’ nonleague contest.

Junior guard Samantha Uehara scored a game-high 22 points. She did so by draining six three-pointers, while also adding five rebounds.

It was clear that the Sea Kings (8-11) were implementing practice concepts, as Uehara and senior guard Aya Prow engaged in a two-man game on the perimeter, passing the ball between themselves on the same wing until one or the other was open.

“It felt nice,” Uehara said of her hot-shooting night. “I’m actually not really confident in my shooting, but today, it felt amazing.

“I have to give props to Aya because she’s like my partner in crime. We always practice our three-point shooting at practice and after practices, too.”

This week has seen the return of Malia Halafuka from an left-knee injury that occurred right before the season. The junior guard was eager to throw herself into the action, so much so that she could be seen diving out of bounds and into the padded walls to keep plays alive.

“She hopped right back into it really easily,” junior center Tatiana Bruening said of Halafuka giving CdM a more complete rotation. “It wasn’t like a rough transition or anything. She was at every single practice and every single game.”

Halafuka’s presence would be rough on the opposition, though. Combined with the rugged play of Meghan Jordan, who had three steals and a blocked shot off the bench, the Sea Kings frustrated the Sailors (7-11).

Newport Harbor junior guard Dessie Quinonez fouled out just four minutes into the third quarter. Senior forward Taylor Howard and junior guard Lexi Alvarez would join her on the bench in the closing minutes.

“When Lexi is coming up the court and she is getting an arm in her stomach the entire way, it’s not going to be beneficial for anybody to not call that push,” Sailors coach Jillian Blackledge said regarding the frequency of the whistles.

“I don’t think it was ticky-tacky at all. I think it was actually the other way around. They let it get a little bit out of control.”

The first quarter certainly validated Blackledge’s remarks. The teams played at a frenetic pace, diving all over the floor, in a period that saw the Sailors come out ahead 16-15.

Newport Harbor scored just two points in the second quarter, however, allowing CdM to take a 29-18 lead into halftime.

Bruening, who had 18 points and 16 rebounds, voiced the mentality of the Sea Kings following a physical first quarter, saying, “We’re not going let them put us on the ground anymore. We’re not going to let that stop us.

“It was a super physical game, and when people are pushing you, it’s in our hearts to always push back.”

Alvarez had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead Newport Harbor. Senior guard Eunice Nacho added eight points, and sophomore forward Chloe Swanson had four points with 11 rebounds.

CdM has won seven in a row in the series dating to the 2011-12 season.

Corona del Mar 54, Newport Harbor 39

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Corona del Mar 15 – 14 – 11 – 14 — 54

Newport Harbor 16 – 2 – 8 – 13 — 39

CdM – Uehara 22, Bruening 18, Halafuka 4, Prow 3, Jordan 3, Gyselaar 2, Beador 2.

3-pt. goals – Uehara 6, Prow 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

NH – Alvarez 17, Nacho 8, Rath 5, Egan 2, Swanson 4, McPhie 2, Howard 1.

3-pt. goals – Alvarez 3.

Fouled out – Alvarez, Howard, Quinonez.