Team turns up Heat

The Heat went from ice cold last week, to red-hot this week, as they defeated the Nuggets, 49-14, in a Newport-Mesa National Junior Basketball boys’ Division II game Sunday.

Running the “Miami” offense, the Heat jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the first period. Brett Super scored on lay-ups early in the game off passes from the Heat’s big man, Mitch Dean. Super then repaid Dean with three assists and Dean was off to a solid 11-point, 11-rebound game despite playing limited minutes, as the Heat rested their starters as much as possible.

Drew Johnston had a solid game for the Heat with 10 points and several assists. Alec Nguyen was a force under the boards with eight rebounds to go along with four points. John Holland ran the floor and found open teammates with strong, accurate passes and contributed points and rebounds.

Gianluca Vassalli and Patrick Jennings alternated at the point and recorded season-highs in rebounds and assists. Derek Mathuny also collected rebounds and he and Jennings each scored a season-high six points. Krishan Arora’s screens in the first period jump-started the Heat offense and he joined the rest of his teammates in the scoring column.

— Greg Super

Wildcats stun Bulldogs

The Wildcats knocked the Bulldogs from first place with a 40-39 win at Newport Harbor High in a Newport-Mesa NJB Boys’ Division I game.

The Wildcats overcame an 11-point third-period deficit behind big baskets by Kevin Manchester, who scored 14 points and hit a pair of three-point shots, and Ryan Kleinman, who finished with 16 points and four assists. Mark Manchester hit two free throws in the final seconds to ice the game, while Peter Goodman got a key possession in the final period.

Grant Nutt, Grant Morris, Cole Collins and Shane Silver all played excellent defense for the Wildcats.

Jay Damon, David and Michael Karamardian and Augie Miller all played well for the Bulldogs.

— Reader submission

Blazers edge Spartans

The Blazers, 4-1 in their last five games, beat the Spartans, 59-58.

Timmy Strader (24 points, 12 rebounds) led the way for the Blazers, while Gannon Bond (14 points, six assists) and Liam Murphy (four points, four rebounds) helped the cause with key buckets. Richard Hagestad (10 points) also played well in the big win.

The Spartans were led by the stellar play of Trent Dill (18 points, seven blocks), Robbie Bracho (14 points, six rebounds) and Ben Rowland, who scored a season-high 11 points.

— Reader submission