Sailors beat Edison, 49-41

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Far from whistles blowing and fans cheering, but Newport Harbor High Coach Larry Hirst could hear them coming.

He’s used to the atmosphere at Edison High, his alma mater and the school that introduced him to coaching. Friday’s boys’ basketball game was like no other for Hirst, though.

His family was in attendance, more importantly his eighth-grade son Tanner, during the Sunset League opener. Next year the 12-year Newport Harbor coach could be guiding the Sailors against his son.

It hit Hirst. Could he coach against his son, who will be a freshman at Edison next year? The idea forced Hirst to do fretful things before the game that the confident coach is not used to. He crossed his arms and paced frequently, all while greeting former players and friends before tipoff.

Hirst was nervous. So were his Sailors. It took the first half for Newport Harbor to shake the jitters before using its size to pull out a 49-41 victory and allow Hirst for a moment to forget about next year.

That’s until the game ended and Hirst saw his son near the bleachers.

“It’s tough, very emotional,” said Hirst, briefly looking away to compose himself. “I know my son is going to be here [at Edison]. It’s a great experience to be here and the reason I got into coaching was because of a lot of the people that are here. I’d like to have my son have that experience.

“I don’t know if he’ll play basketball. He’s looking to play basketball, volleyball, anything that he can possibly make over here.”

Hirst knows all too well making it at Edison is a challenge.

A handful of times during the game he looked to his left, directly at Edison Coach Rich Boyce. For 11 years he was an assistant at Edison, one of which he was interim head coach.

Hirst eventually went to Newport Beach. But, whenever a Hirst team faced the Chargers, he can’t help but be restless.

Not letting him settle down was Newport Harbor’s first half. The Sailors made six of 19 shots from the field and led, 18-15.

With twin towers in 6-foot-8 center Kyle Caldwell and 6-7 forward Weston Dunlap, Newport Harbor’s guards struggled feeding either one. When one touched the ball, Edison’s 2-3 matchup zone collapsed, triggering either big man to toss it back out.

“Hirst urged the guards to give up the ball to Caldwell, and he showed his worth outside the paint midway through the third quarter. Caldwell knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to put the Tars up, 25-19.

Caldwell finished with 16 points to go along with 13 rebounds and four blocks. More impressive to Hirst was Caldwell’s pass to Dunlap with 4 minutes, 50 seconds left. On top of the three-point line Caldwell stood, soaring over two attacking defenders. It took one look to find Dunlap, who scored in the post while being fouled. He converted the three-point play at the free-throw line, and the Sailors (10-4) were on their way, taking a commanding, 43-34 advantage.

“I think our big kids showed some versatility, one not letting the collapsing zone affect them,” said Hirst, whose other big man, Dunlap added eight points. “We’re very fortunate that they are not just back-to-basket type post players.”

The size finally wore on Edison, factoring in it going one-for-14 shooting in the final quarter. The two brothers, guards Corey Ferraro and Eric Ferraro, couldn’t strike and make up for Edison’s usual leading scorer in Kyle Boswell being limited to two points, 17 below his season average.

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 49,

Edison 41

Score by Quarters

Newport 9

9

19

12

— 49

Edison 7

8

17

9

— 41

Newport -- Caldwell 16, Kaluz 8, Stassel 7, Kuhns 6, Holmes 6, Nigro 3, Ma. Helfrich 3.

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

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.

Edison -- C. Ferraro 19, E. Ferraro 10, Hoida 4, Capriccio 2, O’Brien 2, Eberts 2, Boswell 2.

3-pt. goals -- C. Ferraro 3, E. Ferraro 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Technicals -- None.