SEA VIEW LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Woodbridge Takes Care of Business, Ranking

The risk was a little higher than normal, the reward a little greater. And when Jamie Oenning and her teammates walked off the Newport Harbor floor Friday night, the anxiety that had gripped them before tip-off was let off in a stream of laughter.

Second-ranked Woodbridge remained one of Orange County’s two unbeaten girls’ basketball teams by scoring a business-like 52-40 Sea View League victory over eighth-ranked Newport Harbor.

The teams shared the league title last year--each school won on the road--and many expected a similar battle this season between the Warriors (16-0, 5-0) and Sailors (11-5, 4-1).

“The anxiety before the game was a little greater because there was a little more riding on it,” admitted Oenning, who had 11 first-half points and finished with 13. “This team responded to that; we were able to maintain our focus and even raise it a notch.”

The Warriors did against the Sailors, who were cursed by poor shooting. They trailed by eight before they sank their first basket after a bit more than three minutes.

“It looked like someone put a lid on their basket,” Woodbridge Coach Eric Bangs said. “For 95% of the time, we did exactly what we wanted to on defense. I figured 50 points would win the game.”

Fifty was more than enough. It was a 12-point game only because Genevieve Evarts (16 points) scored eight in the final 40 seconds.

The Sailors shot only 28% in the game, but 20% in the first three quarters and trailed 41-21. They were two of 11 from the floor in each of the first two quarters and trailed, 14-7, and 28-13.

“After a while,” Newport Harbor Coach Shannon Jakosky said, “it was almost comical.”

And it was Woodbridge that was laughing.

Oenning kept springing open in the first half, and in the second, Angela Burgess scored 11 of her 15 points to finish the job. She had nine rebounds. Both were six of 11 from the floor. The Warriors have five starters shooting more than 40% from the field for the season, and they shot 40% on Friday.

In other league games:

Tustin 61, Corona del Mar 41--Erin Oakley scored a career-high 16 points and Katie Scheuerman added 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead host Tustin (12-5, 4-1). Rosalie Kane had 15 points, including two three-pointers, for Corona del Mar (8-7, 2-3).

Irvine 59, Santa Margarita 56 (OT)--Shawnee Stevens’s three-pointer with no time left tied the score in regulation, and teammate Jenna Vodholdt scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in overtime to lead visiting Irvine (8-6, 2-2).

Stevens finished with 21 points, including three three-pointers, and Melinda Newe added 12 points and four assists for Irvine.

University 60, Saddleback 54--Jennifer Stanley had 29 points for University (9-4, 3-2), which struggled without leading rebounder Pamela Loud (knee injury). Nicole Wiora had 20 points, including three three-pointers, for Saddleback (4-9, 0-5).