Sailors take Eagles for trip

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NEWPORT BEACH — Missing its major force down low from the starting lineup, Newport Harbor High went to its other big guy Tuesday night.

With 6-foot-8 center Kyle Caldwell sitting out the first quarter because he missed a practice, the Sailors introduced 6-7 forward Weston Dunlap to Estancia.

Estancia, preparing to see Caldwell early, couldn’t even handle Dunlap. When Caldwell returned in the second quarter, the two powered through the undersized Eagles.

Dunlap finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks and Caldwell added 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Sailors to a 65-48 nonleague boys’ basketball victory at home.

“With both Kyle and Weston in [together], they’re our focal point in our offense,” Newport Harbor Coach Larry Hirst said. “Most teams don’t have guys that match up with us.

“[Kyle] was visiting some relatives [in Chicago] and he missed practice the day before the game, and if you do that, you don’t start. It’s just our policy.”

Caldwell adhered to the rule. When his number was called to start the second, he immediately made his presence felt.

Instead of easily posting up a player five inches shorter, Caldwell took a three-pointer nine seconds into the quarter. He made it, giving the Sailors (9-4) a 22-9 lead and signaling to Estancia (2-14) that it was headed for its 10th consecutive loss.

After Dunlap scored six points in the first quarter, Caldwell scored nine points in the second, putting the Sailors ahead, 32-22. But they needed more if they planned to carry on the success they achieved in winning the Keene State Classic championship at Keene State College in New Hampshire last week.

Dunlap and Caldwell didn’t take it easy on Estancia.

Dunlap ripped the ball out of the hands of guard Ian Castellanos, one of 20 turnovers for the Eagles. Dunlap didn’t stop after the steal. He raced toward the other end for an easy layup.

Thirty-three seconds later, Dunlap showcased his passing ability.

With Estancia converging on him in the paint, he duped defenders with a head fake. But rather than go up, he slipped a pass to his right, where Caldwell stood all alone. Caldwell finished the play with a layup, giving him nine points for the second straight quarter and Newport Harbor a 15-point lead.

“It was easier, because I’m bigger and taller,” said Caldwell, who made six of nine field goals. “We played really good defense on their best player, Pinto, or whatever his name is.”

Estancia forgot about its leading scorer, too.

Blake Pinto, averaging around 20 points per game, attempted five shots. Only one fell through, and the senior point guard wound up with five points.

Slowing down Pinto in the first half was the Sailors’ pressing defense, forcing him to give up the ball sooner than usual. His teammates didn’t take advantage of the open space, as they turned the ball over or missed jumpers.

Estancia converted 17 of 47 shots, 23 of those came from behind the three-point line. The player with the most success was guard Troy McClanahan, who made three of eight three-pointers and finished with 17 points.

“It came down to our guards versus their post,” Estancia Coach Scott Kahawai said. “Whoever won that battle would end up being more successful.”

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, it was apparent the Eagles proved no contest for Dunlap and Caldwell. The towering two sat out most of the quarter, watching from the bench, where their coach awaited a new challenge.

Hirst knows he and his team will have one come Friday, when they open play in their new league, the Sunset. But there will be a lot more at stake for the 12-year Newport Harbor coach when the Sailors play at 7 p.m. at Edison, Hirst’s alma mater.

“It’s going to be a little emotional,” said Hirst, who graduated from Edison in 1979. “Having coached [at Edison] for 11 years, I’ll know a lot of people in the stands and a lot of people at the scorer’s table. It will be tough emotionally for me, not for our kids, but for me.

“If we have an early lead I think I’ll forget about that other stuff.”

Having a major force like Caldwell in the starting lineup could help.

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 65,

Estancia 48

Score by Quarters

Estancia

9

13

9

17

—

48

Newport

19

13

22

11

—

65

Estancia -- Tr. McClanahan 17, Castellanos 8, Ta. McClanahan 7, Pinto 5, Hart 4, McDonald 4, Fryslie 3.

3-pt. goals -- Tr. McClanahan 3, Castellanos 2, Ta. McClanahan 1, Fryslie 1, Hart 1.

Newport -- Caldwell 18, Dunlap 14, Stassel 10, Holmes 7, Ma. Helfrich 6, Burnham 4, Mi. Helfrich 2, Kuhsn 2, Volz 2.

3-pt. goals -- Stassel 2, Caldwell 1.