McIntee extends reign at Tars’ tournament

NEWPORT BEACH ? In a gym full of former Sailors, Justin McIntee confirmed his status as Commodore on Saturday afternoon.

McIntee, a 1992 Newport Harbor High graduate, teamed with several fellow alums to win the sixth annual Newport Harbor basketball alumni tournament that featured eight teams.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound McIntee, 31, who starred at Harbor before playing collegiately at Biola and Southern California College (now Vanguard University), scored 10 points in his team’s 36-29 title-game victory over a squad led by 2005 graduate Brett Perrine.

It was the fourth time in his four tournament appearances that McIntee, who owns Newport Harbor scoring records for one game (43 points) and one season (618 as a senior in 1991-92), spearheaded a group that was also keyed by members of the Tars’ 1990 Sea View League championship squad.

Paig Parrish and Eddie Martinez, both seniors on that 1990 team coached by Bob Serven, scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the title game.

Parrish scored the final eight points to help “Team No. 1” rally from a 29-26 deficit with 4:08 remaining in the 25-minute game (with the clock running throughout stoppages).

Parrish’s layup with just more than two minutes left ? produced by a cut through the lane in a half-court set, with an assist by Craig DeBusk (also Class of 1990) ? put the McIntee-led unit up for good, 30-29.

Parrish increased the lead with a three-pointer with 1:22 remaining, then sealed the deal with another three ball with 32 seconds left.

DeBusk finished with three points, while Eric Dragaset (Class of 1988) rounded out the scoring for the winners with two in the title game.

The champions also received contributions from Kevin Saks (Class of 1990), Alan Limon (Class of 1999), Tyler Koon (Class of 1988), Michael Bassler (Class of 1988) and Todd Summers (Class of 1990).

The runners-up, who began the day with former Sailors and brothers Greg Perrine, Eric Perrine and Brett Perrine on the roster, as well as their father, John Perrine, received nine points in the final from Brett Perrine.

Brett Perrine, the 2005 Newport-Mesa Player of the Year in boys’ volleyball who was a redshirt freshman in the UCLA volleyball program last season, helped “Team No. 2” overcome missing its first 11 field-goal attempts to forge ahead.

Brett Perrine hit a three-pointer with 8:10 remaining to break a 17-17 tie.

Eric Perrine (Class of 1999), who did not play basketball at Newport Harbor and later played volleyball at UC San Diego, scored all six of his points, and half of his team’s first 12, in the first 11:10.

Taylor Young (Class of 2005), who like Brett Perrine was a two-time Newport-Mesa Dream Team honoree, added six points for “Team No. 2,” which received eight points from Fernando Castorena, including a pair of three-pointers.

Greg Perrine (Class of 2002), a three-year starting point guard, sat out most of the tournament after “tweaking” one of his anterior cruciate ligaments, upon which he has had three reconstructive surgeries since the late summer before his senior year at Newport Harbor. Greg Perrine completed his collegiate career last season at Chapman University.

The runners-up also received contributions from Sailors Coach Larry Hirst, making his first appearance since playing on the winning team in the inaugural tournament in 2000, Eric Nutter and Ted Slater.

Hirst delighted those in the stands by netting a few three-pointers, finishing a few drives to the basket, blocking a few shots and collecting some rebounds.

“I also took a couple charges,” said Hirst, who graduated from Edison High in 1979, and later played at Southern California College.

Hirst said the tournament, run by Jaime Holmes (Class of 1973), was a resounding success. He praised the winning team and downplayed his role with the runners-up.

“I think the difference in the final was that you had guys from the 1990s who really wanted to win,” Hirst said. “As a guy who graduated in 1979, I really wanted to not get hurt. But those guys [on “Team No. 1”] played well and you can tell they all still play.”

Hirst said there were a couple players from the late 1960s who made appearances and added that he always enjoys seeing whoever shows up.

“I coached about 50% of these guys and the other 50%, I either coached against or played against,” Hirst said.

McIntee’s team defeated a team led by 2006 Newport-Mesa Player of the Year Dennis Heenan, who will continue at Vanguard, 45-38, in one semifinal.

Heenan’s team included fellow 2006 graduates Tony Yaghjian, Robert Koon, Dakota Ortiz, Sean Eadington and Slater (who also played on “Team No. 2”).

In the other semifinal, Brett Perrine’s team topped a squad of 2003 graduates, 40-35.

The 2003 graduates included Chase Cameron, Chad Rorden, Jair Hernandez, and Ben Soza, as well as George Fedorovtsev, who transferred to Capistrano Valley after his junior year at Newport Harbor.

The team also received a contribution from Scott Ramsen.