Sunset League

LOS ALAMITOS — What most expected to be a battle of big men was decided closer to 20 feet from the basket Friday night, when Newport Harbor High visited Los Alamitos in a clash of Sunset League unbeatens. The Griffins, benefiting from the Sailors' zone defense — implemented in order to focus attention on Los Al's twin towers — netted eight of 13 three-point attempts (61.5%) on their way to a 68-41 boys' basketball blowout. Los Al (17-4, 5-0 in league), the defending CIF Southern Section Division I-AA champion, ranked No. 6 in Division I-A this season, forced the Sailors (13-5, 4-1)

COSTA MESA — The navy blue shirt under Brandon Kula’s Newport Harbor High football jersey said it all. It read “WAR” in white letters. It was a bold statement coming from the Sailors. This time, they approached their game against Edison with a different mentality than the previous two seasons. Those late-season games ended up ugly for Newport Harbor. Coach Jeff Brinkley reminded his Sailors this was a different time of the season. The two programs opened Sunset League play Friday night.

For the better part of two decades, the high school football teams from Newport Harbor High and Los Alamitos have put consistent excellence on a public stage. Tonight, two of the top public-school programs in Orange County put their reputations, as well as a share of the Sunset League lead, on the line in a league clash that kicks off at 7 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. "Los Al is used to winning, and so are we," said Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley, who shares a mutual respect for a Los Al program guided by John Barnes, the winningest coach in county history.

NEWPORT BEACH — A game should never come down to a call. But, unfortunately for the Newport Harbor High baseball team it did Thursday. Down by one run in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third base, Sailors center fielder Alex Maddox stepped to the plate with two outs against Edison ace Henry Owens. With the wind howling to center field and the crowd on its feet, Maddox hit a soft roller toward the shortstop, who after bare-handing it, flung a one-hopper to first.

NEWPORT BEACH — Late in the second set, a defining moment came for the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball team. With the score tied, 21-21, and the Sailors on the brink of falling 2-0 in sets, it was time for the Tars to show why they are ranked No. 1 CIF Southern Section Division I-AA. It was time for them to display why they are the favorite to win the Sunset League. It was time for Kirby Burnham. The senior bound for USC scored three of the final four points to give Newport Harbor the pivotal win. It helped the Sailors beat visiting Edison, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16, Tuesday night.

The Newport Harbor High girls' tennis team learned in difficult fashion last year that what happens in the regular season stays in the regular season. In 2005, the Sailors went 10-0 in the Sea View League to capture their third consecutive league title. But the celebration did not last long as Newport Harbor was bounced from the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs in the first round. With four returning players, the Sailors are focused on winning in the postseason this year.

ANAHEIM — For an opening round, Kyle Caldwell stood in as long as possible before being dropped to the floor. In the third quarter, his face was closer to the court than his sneakers. The Sunset League opener for the Newport Harbor High boys’ basketball team left the 6-foot-9 center with a gash near his left eye, a cut below his right knee and a busted lip. Caldwell shrugged off all the bumps and bruises levied on him by Esperanza. “I’ve bled all over the place before,” he said.

There were times during a 14-year run in which the Newport Harbor High football team reached its CIF Southern Section Division title game seven times, that Sailor rooters wondered aloud how they would fare against some of the marquee teams in then-Division I. Such speculation ends tonight, when the Sailors (3-2) play host to Esperanza (5-0), in the Sunset League opener for both teams. The Aztecs, ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division (formerly known as Division I)

LONG BEACH ? Both coaches offered postgame misgivings about their team's miscues, missteps and missed opportunities in a Sunset League first-place showdown between visiting Newport Harbor High and Los Alamitos. The only difference at Veterans Stadium was that Los Alamitos head man John Barnes did so with a smile. Barnes' frown was turned around by Zach Abrams' 36-yard field goal with 5:55 left. The kick also turned a 7-6 deficit into a crucial Sunset League win, the second narrow league victory in as many games for the Griffins (6-1, 2-0 in league)