Sailors start slow in tourney

COSTA MESA — She didn’t seem nearly as menacing when the Sailors faced her during summer league play, but Laguna Hills High forward Lauren Engeln made life tough for Newport Harbor Wednesday afternoon.

The sophomore sensation had 11 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Hawks (7-5) to a 60-21 win over a sputtering Newport Harbor team.

As a freshman, Engeln averaged 11 points per game and was selected as the Player of the Year in CIF Southern Section Division IV-A .

It didn’t help that Newport Harbor (3-8) was missing one of its two six-footers, who guarded Engeln when the Sailors played Laguna Hills in the summer. Maiquel McLeish was out because of a concussion she suffered against Irvine Dec. 13.

“We knew she was good,” Newport Harbor Coach Randy Larson said. “It’s just Katey [Thompson]. With two six-footers, we’re pretty tough inside. We can stop the other team. But unfortunately, without Katey we drop down to about 5-8. They had two pretty good post players and no one could really stop [Engeln].

“I think Maiquel could have, and did in summer, but we just had lack of hustle, silly turnovers, not playing the smart mental part of the game.”

Newport Harbor missed McLeish’s presence at the boards too, as the Hawks outrebounded the Sailors, 45-30.

The Sailors went nearly two quarters without scoring before Lindsay Anderson scored with 1:59 left in the second quarter to make the score 27-2. Christina O’Tousa hit another field goal just 18 seconds later, and the Sailors went into the locker room trailing 27-4 at halftime.

The Sailors, unable to find an offensive rhythm, committed 25 turnovers compared to the Hawks’ 18. Jasmine Hamilton finished with four points and three steals, and Engeln added two more takeaways.

Newport Harbor was coming off a 2-2 finish in the Magnolia tournament, and Larson thought the Sailors progress was promising. The Sailors beat Morningside Saturday, because they pressed well and did well at the free-throw line, he said.

But Wednesday, the Sailors hadn’t recovered from a brief Christmas veg-out.

“I think it was too much holiday Christmas cheer or whatever,” Larson said. “Although they’re all below the drinking age. But whatever.”

Wednesday’s win stopped a three-game slide for the Hawks, who lost a close game, 45-43, at Aliso Niguel Dec. 17.

“Every game was within 5-10 points,” Larson said of the Sailors’ summer league matchups with the Hawks. “I was looking at the scoreboard in shock that basically they came ready to play and we didn’t.”

Costa Mesa Winter Classic

First round Laguna Hills 60, Newport Harbor 21

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NH – Anderson 11, Schneiders 2, Jimenez 2, O’Tousa 2, Thomposon 2, Riley 1, Hohl 1.

3-pt. goals – Anderson 1.

Fouled out – None.

LH– L. Engeln 11; Nakhaie 11, Shimazaki 6, A. Engeln 6, Arnett 6, Sandell 5, Hamilton 4, Eittreim 4, Schwarz 3, Stewart 2, White 2.

3-pt. goals – Nakhaie 3.

Fouled out – None.

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at [email protected].