Tars look for a new beginning

The Newport Harbor High girls’ basketball team hopes to turn things around, but the top half of the Sea View League looks daunting.The Newport Harbor High girls’ basketball team has battled sickness, injuries and a bad case of losing in nonleague action this season. But with a win in the San Marcos Tournament last week -- Newport Harbor beat Oceanside 53-48 -- and improved health, the Sailors (2-13) are hoping to turn their season around in Sea View League action.

Newport Harbor opens Sea View League play today at Woodbridge in a 7 p.m. contest. Unfortunately for the Sailors, Woodbridge looks like the team to beat in the Sea View League.

The Warriors are 13-1 -- their only loss coming to El Dorado, 57-52, in the Gary Raya Tournament. Woodbridge has won six in a row entering league play.

Foothill (12-4) and Laguna Hills (9-4) look primed to capture the other playoff spots out of the Sea View League. Foothill’s Christina Marinacci leads the league in points (283) and rebounds (131) and figures to be a force. Teammate Lori McIntosh leads in steals with 55. Laguna Hills’ Cori Williams boasts a league-high 27 three-pointers and teammate Deborah Go has amassed 59 assists.

But Newport Harbor, led by junior guard Ivy Melo -- who had 11 points in the victory over Oceanside -- has hopes of surprising some teams.

If forwards Jessica Bodkin and Gricelle Cordero are healthy, the Sailors can’t be counted out under fifth-year Coach Jen Thompson. Bodkin and Cordero each had 10 points in the win over Oceanside. The Sailors will need similar production the rest of the season if they are going to compete for a spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Cordero, who injured her knee in the second game of the season, scored 13 points in her first game back -- a 46-33 loss to Whitney Dec. 23 -- and has given the team a boost ever since.

The Sailors host Foothill in their Sea View League home opener Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.

Last year, Newport Harbor was 2-8 in what was a competitive league race.