PREP BASKETBALL / COAST HOLIDAY CLASSIC : Huntington Beach Holds Off Newport Harbor, Wins Title

After surviving five Newport Harbor rallies, Huntington Beach pulled away down the stretch to beat the Sailors, 78-73, in the championship game of the Coast Holiday Classic Friday night at Estancia High School.

With tournament MVP Tony Gonzalez on the bench after drawing his fifth foul and a 73-70 lead with 47 seconds remaining, Huntington Beach (6-6) got some clutch free-throw shooting from Josh Holland and Vasili Hatzirias, who hit two with 35 seconds remaining for a 76-70 lead.

Huntington Beach had leads of eight, nine and 10 points four times only to see the Sailors come fighting back.

“I knew it would be that type of game,” Huntington Beach Coach Roy Miller said. “They have a number of weapons. You think you’re comfortable and someone hits a 22-footer and they’re back in it.”

Gonzalez contributed 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but he got in trouble when he lost his cool after being called for his third foul and drawing a technical with 1:34 remaining. Newport’s Paul Tayyar, who had just hit a three-point basket, hit both free throws to narrow the Sailors’ deficit to 70-68.

Hatzirias, who had 16 points and four assists, hit a free throw with 1:18 remaining and Matt Jones hit both ends of a one-and-one with 57 seconds left for a 73-68 lead before Gonzalez fouled out and center Ramy Shoukry made two free throws.

Newport Harbor (7-5) was led in scoring by Danny Pulido with 23 points and Tayyar with 18 points, including three three-point field goals. Matt Malmquist added 13 points for Huntington Beach, which is 5-3 since Gonzalez rejoined team after the football playoffs.

In the third-place game:

Edison 54, Long Beach Jordan 51--Micah Kroeger scored 23 points for Edison (7-1). Edison led, 17-6, after one quarter but the teams were tied, 26-26, at the half.

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In the fifth-place game:

Estancia 60, Corona del Mar 59--Estancia led, 59-51, with a minute left and hung on. Corona del Mar’s Dan MacMillan made a three-pointer as time ran out to make it a one-point game.

Mark Pierson had 17 points and Clay Frenz added 15 for Estancia (7-7). Frenz, a senior guard, scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.

MacMillan had 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for Corona del Mar.

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In the seventh-place game:

Irvine 64, Santa Maria Righetti 53--Greg Foster scored a game-high 23 points for Irvine (4-7), the defending tournament champion. Foster showed balance in the entire game, scoring six in the first quarter, five each in the second and third and seven in the forth quarter.

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In the consolation championship:

Dana Hills 56, Napa Vintage 54 (OT)--Donald Myers (six points) of Dana Hills scored the only basket of overtime. Dana Hills led, 27-26, at the half but needed a strong second half from Bob Hefty, a senior forward, to reach overtime.