Hansen-Dent’s Handsome Dividend: Player of Year : Tennis: Once overshadowed by Jon Leach, Newport Harbor player won two important titles this spring.

In late April, Brett Hansen-Dent survived a three-hour battle with Jon Leach of Laguna Beach to win the Ojai tournament 18-and-under title in a close, three-set match.

One month later, he was primed and ready to get what he had been trying to win for three years. With a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Ari Nathan of Brentwood, Hansen-Dent’s pursuit ended when he won the Southern Section singles title.

That victory has accorded the Newport Harbor High School player yet another honor. He has been named The Times’ Orange County tennis player of the year, ending Leach’s two-year reign.

Hansen-Dent’s Southern Section title was the second in three years for a county player. Leach won as a freshman in 1988 and was runner-up last year.

Hansen-Dent’s victory marked the end of high school career in which he improved quickly, despite often being overshadowed by Leach, a frequent practice partner.

“He’s been the top guy around since he was 12,” said Hansen-Dent, who will play at UC Irvine next year. “Plus, he has his name.”

Leach, a junior, is the son of Dick Leach, the USC tennis coach. His older brother, Rick, plays with Jim Pugh to form one of the best doubles teams in the world. His older sister, Mindy, was a standout for the Laguna Beach girls’ team.

Hansen-Dent and Leach live 10 minutes from each other, but the spotlight has usually found its way to Leach.

Even though Hansen-Dent won the Southern Section tournament, a crew from ESPN’s “Scholastic Sports America” program was there to interview Leach, who had lost to Nathan in the semifinals.

But Leach is not the only one who is the son of a famous tennis father.

Phil Dent, Hansen-Dent’s father, was once ranked No. 5 in the world. Phil is married to Betty Ann Grubb, a former player on the women’s pro tour.

When Brett was younger, his father made one simple rule. When Brett wanted to play tennis, he would ask his father. Phil would not ask Brett.

Obviously, Brett asked to play a lot.

“At least I don’t have to pay for lessons,” Hansen-Dent said after his victory at Ojai.

Tactics are the biggest lessons he learns from his father, Hansen-Dent said.

Now, the two play doubles together in tournaments.

Hansen-Dent plans to play in junior tournaments this summer, including the national championships in August, when it’s possible he will face Leach again.

In the fall, he will begin classes at Irvine, joining Coach Greg Patton’s nationally respected program.

Once again, he is likely to meet Leach, who plans to graduate from Laguna Beach in January and begin playing at USC next spring.

ALL-COUNTY BOYS’ TENNIS TEAM FIRST TEAM Singles

Player Year School Brett Hansen-Dent Sr. Newport Harbor Won the Southern Section, Ojai Valley titles Jon Leach Jr. Laguna Beach Southern Section semifinalist and Ojai runner-up Adam Petersen Soph. Mater Dei Won 16s singles titles at Ojai, Easter Bowl Doubles Adam Jarrett Jr. Mater Dei Jason Harnett Sr. Won Southern Section, Angelus League titles Maximo Alvarez Sr. Capistrano Valley Ryan Muller Jr. Semifinalists at Southern Section tournament Suri Appa Sr. El Toro Brian Delbenes Sr. South Coast League champions

SECOND TEAM

Player Year School Singles Willie Dann Sr. University Cameran Lindee Fr. Loara Ben Stevens Sr. Dana Hills Doubles Billy Hanson Sr. Newport Harbor Brad Gibson Sr. Kenny Alston Sr. Corona del Mar Marshall Solomon Sr. Danny Yu Sr. Valencia Ryan Takenaga Sr.

Player of the year: Brett Hansen-Dent, Newport Harbor