The Newport-Mesa National Junior Basketball All-Star girls' team of sixth-graders went undefeated at the sectional tournament last weekend and advanced to the national tournament.
The Newport-Mesa All-Stars beat Villa Park, 46-26, at Beckman High to complete a 4-0 record in the tournament and secure a berth to the NJB national tournament, which begins March 31 and will be played throughout Orange County.
The national tournament will include teams mainly from Southern California as NBJ is played in seven states, Newport-Mesa Coach Eddie Golden said.
Dave Golden and Peter Nguyen were also coaches on the team.
Tia Grippo was the team's floor leader, while Delani Guyot was one of the All-Stars' top scorers. The Newport-Mesa NJB All-Stars also feature: Gwen Hart, Erica Rogers, Danielle Manderson, Chloe Harbilas, Jordan Golden, Miranda Cyr, Anne O'Connor and Nataly Shayan-Smith.
"They were excited," Eddie Golden said of going 4-0 in the tourney. "They were thrilled and really motivated about the possibility to keep on playing."