Wilson has perfect wave

SAN CLEMENTE — Newport Harbor High finished tied for third at the Red Bull Riders Cup national high school surfing championship completed Sunday at Lower Trestles at San Onofre State Beach.

The Sailors, who qualified for the eight-team event by winning the Orange County regional title, were edged, 73-71.5, by eventual champion Mira Costa in the first of two semifinals Sunday.

Newport Harbor, behind a perfect 10.0 score from senior Chase Wilson, defeated Satellite High of Florida in the quarterfinals Saturday, 75-73.5

The perfect score recorded by Wilson was the only 10 of the competition and the only 10 posted in four years of the national event, Sailors Coach Scott Morlan said.

Wilson was named Most Valuable Surfer of the match against Satellite, in which the Sailors outpointed the Floridians the first two periods of 12-minute alternating sessions. Newport Harbor then held off the opposition to advance to the semifinals.

Against Mira Costa, Newport trailed, 47-42, after two periods, but closed the gap with a strong showing in the final period in what Morlan called postcard-perfect waves.

Mira Costa defeated San Dieguito Academy, 98-96, in overtime to capture the title.

— From staff reports