Cook Takes the Heat, Gets in North’s Kitchen

Newport Harbor’s Ryan Cook took a lot of ribbing in the Orange County all-star boys’ water polo game Sunday at Villa Park High.

Cook was harassed by the North squad every time he touched the ball, and toward the end of the game, even the announcer joined the good-natured teasing by calling Cook a ball hog.

In the end it was Cook who came out laughing, finishing with two goals, four assists and two steals as the South defeated the North in the seniors-only game, 12-9.

“Yeah, that kind of upset me,” Cook joked. “Actually, I love it. It made the game more fun.”

Cook took the heckling in stride, and after missing a close-range shot that brought howls from the North bench, Cook responded seconds later with a slam past Villa Park goalkeeper Jared Jones for an 11-8 lead with 2 minutes 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

A little finger-pointing at the North bench was Cook’s only response.

The verbal barbs for the member of the Division I champion Sailors were good-natured and got the crowd excited about an otherwise slow-moving game.

Defense dominated the first half. The North had 10 steals in the half, and the score was tied, 4-4, heading into the third quarter.

However, Cook and El Toro’s Brett McCleave sparked a five-goal third period that put the South up, 9-5. In the quarter Cook scored a goal and assisted on three, two by McCleave. McCleave finished with three goals, three steals and an assist.

Although the South squad was packed with potential first-team all-county players, the North stayed close.

La Habra’s Josh Jewett assisted on a goal by El Dorado’s Mike Lee that made it 10-8 with three minutes remaining. However, Cook and McCleave each scored goals with under two minutes remaining to secure the victory.

The North, which had 14 steals, was led on defense by Villa Park’s Charlie Fisher and Foothill’s Brian Alexander with four each. Both players also scored two goals. La Habra’s Gabriel Pacheco had two steals and an assist.

Peter Belden of Newport Harbor and Garrett Bowlus of Division II section champion Corona del Mar each scored two goals for the South.