Newport Harbor’s Bury named Sunset’s best

Newport Harbor High senior Mimi Bury has been named Most Valuable Player of the Sunset League in girls’ water polo.

The Stanford-bound Bury, the Sailors’ lone captain, had 40 goals, a team-high 35 assists and 60 steals for Newport Harbor, helping lead the team to both the league crown and the CIF Southern Section Division I title.

Newport Harbor came back from a three-goal deficit in the CIF Division I championship game to beat Back Bay rival Corona del Mar, 6-5, in overtime on Feb. 23 at Irvine High.

It was the Sailors’ fourth Division I championship in girls’ water polo.

Bury, who was first-team all-league a season ago, drew three exclusions and had two assists against the Sea Kings in the championship game. She was named to the all-tournament team at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and the Irvine Southern California Championships.

Also making first-team All-Sunset League for Newport Harbor were seniors Morgan Vickers and Jessica Robinson, and junior Nicolina McCall.

Vickers, a two-year varsity starter who was second-team all-league last year, recorded 189 saves as the anchor of the Newport Harbor defense. She produced a season-high 12 saves against Whittier on Jan. 31. Vickers was named to the all-tournament team at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and the Irvine Southern California Championships.

Robinson, a Cal-bound left-handed player and another two-year starter, finished with 21 goals, 22 assists and 25 steals for the Sailors. She was an all-tournament team pick at the Irvine Southern California Championships.

McCall, a transfer from Rosary High, tallied a team-high 65 goals for the Sailors, including the game-winner in the Division I title game. Her 65 steals also led the team.

Seniors Erin Reid and Amanda Simons, as well as sophomores Kaleigh Gilchrist and Kate Klippert, earned second-team All-Sunset League status.

Reid, a left-hander who often led the Sailors’ counterattack, finished second on the team with 44 goals and added 23 steals.

Simons, a senior set guard, scored six goals and had 26 steals for Newport Harbor.

Gilchrist, one of the team’s best passers and outside shooters, had 41 goals and 26 assists. Gilchrist, also a standout surfer for the Newport Harbor’s surf club team, also had 63 steals for the Sailors.

Klippert, who won most of the quarter-starting sprints for Newport Harbor, also finished with 36 goals and 60 steals.

Newport Harbor finished 30-5 after taking fourth in the CIF Southern Section Masters Tournament.

— From staff reports