Aim High Elite wins tourney title

The Aim High Hoops Elite Basketball Club's boys' 12U team won the SPK Bad Boys of the Beach title in its division last weekend in Harbor City.

Going undefeated heading into the championship game, Aim High displayed a solid performance by defeating Team Loyalty Basketball, 54-4, South Bay Basketball, 42-20, and a come-from-behind victory against 5 on Five, 38-33, before matching up with MOC in the championship game.

The tile game featured the aggressive defense by Aim High to beat MOC, 64-44, to take home another championship trophy for the season.

The club was led by the stellar play throughout the tournament by Luke Vafiadis (12.5 points, 10 rebounds), Mikey Ruiz (7.5 points, three rebounds and four steals), Shan Dharod (6.5 points, 5.5 assists), Kyle Hatch (five points, three steals and 2.5 assists), Chris Cox (six points, 7.5 rebounds), Nick Ursini (four points, four steals and two assists), Sebastian Hooshmand (six points, five rebounds and two blocks) and Turner Maza (two points and three steals).

Dharod hit four three-pointers in the final minutes, while the backcourt combination of Ruiz and Hatch took care of business on the defensive end and Vafiadis with Cox dominated the boards for Aim High to overcome an 11-point deficit to send Aim High into the title game.

Contributing off the bench, Ursini, Maza and Hooshmand provided key minutes and depth throughout the weekend tournament for Aim High.

The Aim High Hoops Elite boys' 12U were coached by Daniel Lim and will play next in the SGV Tournament July 9-10.

— Reader submission

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Team makes solid debut

For the first time in Newport Beach Little League history, Newport Beach fielded a 9-year-old team in the District 55 All-Stars Tournament.

The 12 players were chosen from the Newport Beach League American Division of six teams. Aliso Viejo was the host of the tourney in which Newport Beach came out hitting, defeating Central Irvine, 15-3.

Pitchers Christian Schwartz, Braiden Hook and Caden McMackin performed at a high level and were backed by a stellar defense of center fielder Luke Joyce, second baseman Griffin Snider, shortstop David Adelsberg, catcher Nolan Rhodes and third baseman Dominic WIlliams.

In the second game, Newport Beach American faced off with its counterpart Newport Beach National. Players and parents from both sides are good friends and showed excellent sportsmanship in a nailbiter, with Newport National winning, 7-6.