GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / SEA VIEW LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Woodbridge Has Depth to Beat Sailors

Newport Harbor scored the game’s first six points, its home fans were into the ballgame and the Sailors had the Woodbridge Warriors right where they wanted them.

And then it all fell apart.

Second-ranked Woodbridge, trying to win a share of its third consecutive Sea View League title, moved alone into first place with a 58-41 victory over No. 6 Newport Harbor Thursday.

Woodbridge improved to 19-1, 5-0 in league; Newport Harbor dropped to 14-3, 4-1.

Woodbridge went on a 16-4 run after digging its early hole; trailing, 8-4, the Warriors were sparked by consecutive three-point plays by Krissy Duperron (17 points) and Angela Burgess (12 points), and Melanie Pearson’s three-point basket. And with Newport’s most powerful player, Dianne Pulido, out with three fouls with one minute left in the first quarter, the Warriors attacked the middle of the Sailors’ defense.

Woodbridge stretched the lead to 25-12 before Newport got some late free-throw opportunities.

Holding a 27-18 halftime lead, Woodbridge opened the third quarter with a 14-3 run.

The Warriors did all this despite using Erin Stovall sparingly because she has the flu. Stovall’s limited court time--she had one rebound and did not score--showed Woodbridge’s tremendous depth. Coach Eric Bangs praised the play of starting guard Tami Weaver, Carly Moss, who was making her first start in Stovall’s absence, and Josie Christensen.

It was Christensen’s passing that Bangs said helped the Warriors with their comeback, and he lauded Moss for handling the pressure of a big game.

“Our kids are maybe one- or two-dimensional, but when they come in, they have a role to play,” Bangs said. “We’re not asking them to do it all. But we hope our bench is strong.”

Mandy Clayton, who scored 12 for Newport, thought so.

“They all come out and they’re all good players,” Clayton said. “There’s not one weak link.”

In other Sea View League games:

Corona del Mar 56, Santa Margarita 48--Ashley Conover’s 16 points led Corona del Mar (9-11, 2-3). Shannon Noonan scored 15 for Santa Margarita (1-8, 5-4).

Irvine 45, El Toro 36--Shawnee Stevens scored 16 for Irvine (10-8, 2-3). El Toro is 6-12, 1-4.