Sailors, Izzi start strong for Coach VanDusen

Things seem to be coming together nicely for the Newport Harbor High girls’ basketball team.

In her second season as head coach, Shelly VanDusen has a large senior class of eight players. Many of them were coached by VanDusen as freshmen in 2011-12, when she was the Sailors’ frosh-soph coach.

“They have a lot of experience coming up in the program,” said VanDusen, who has two seniors, guards Hannah Doolin and Kiersten Yardley, as team captains.

Newport Harbor has also benefited from the development of junior point guard McKenna Izzi, who came into the week averaging 14.2 points per game.

The preseason results have been strong. The Sailors came into this week 6-6, including a 42-37 win at always-tough Laguna Beach on Dec. 17. Two nights later, the Sailors routed Costa Mesa, 65-17, a lopsided result that surprised even VanDusen.

But Newport Harbor is also looking to make a statement this year in the Sunset League, in which the Sailors have 31 straight losses. They have not won a game in league since the 2010-11 season.

Last year the Sailors came close twice, losing to Fountain Valley by six points and Los Alamitos by four.

“I think we can play with people this year,” VanDusen said. “We showed last year that we could stick with people ... I don’t think it’s a guaranteed 0-10 for Newport Harbor this year. I think we’re ready for everybody. I’m excited for league to hit this year, and I think the girls are too.”

Izzi, the daughter of UC Irvine Athletic Director Mike Izzi, has drastically improved her scoring average from 4.9 points per game as a freshman and 6.3 as a sophomore. She also inherited point guard duties this season following the graduation of Bela Raimondi, who is now playing at Orange Coast College.

Last year’s top scorer and lone Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection for Newport Harbor, senior Jennifer Lopez, is now playing at Irvine Valley College. But Izzi has shouldered the load.

“She’s really stepped up to the plate in that [point guard] role,” VanDusen said. “I wasn’t sure if she was going to want to do it. I wasn’t sure if she was going to have it in her, and she does. She wants the ball in her hands, and she wants to lead the team. She’s becoming more vocal out on the court.”

Five-foot-10 senior center Kendra Munguia, second on the team with 7.3 points per game and leading the team with 6.3 rebounds, also has been a leader for the Sailors. She has the most varsity experience among the seniors, VanDusen said.

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Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer has added a key piece over the holiday break, Coach Bryan Middleton said, as sophomore defender Hailey Neumann has joined the squad.

Neumann is a high-level club soccer player for Newport Beach-based Slammers FC. She was originally planning to just play lacrosse in high school, Middleton said, but she changed her mind.

Middleton is glad that she did. He said that Neumann blanketed Newport Harbor sophomore forward Sianna Siemonsma during Monday’s second game against rival Newport Harbor, in the North Orange County Classic tournament finale for both schools at Jim Scott Stadium.

Siemonsma had scored the game’s only goal when the Sailors won the Battle of the Bay game, 1-0, at CdM’s field on Dec. 11. On Monday, however, it was a pair of CdM sophomores, Hunter Gantos and Emma Scott, who each scored as the Sea Kings won, 2-0.

Middleton said that adding Neumann has also been key because it frees up senior co-captain Birkley Sigband from her previous role on defense, allowing Sigband to move up and create more offense from the midfield position.

Middleton said he also expects sophomore midfielder Leah Givant (back) to be available when CdM (6-3) opens Pacific Coast League play at Irvine on Jan. 8. The Sea Kings have won four consecutive outright league titles.

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Estancia is another girls’ soccer team off to a strong start. After making the title game of the Best in the West Tournament “EFGH” Division, the Eagles went 3-1 in the North Orange County Classic. Estancia finished off with a pair of wins Monday, topping Lakewood, 2-0, and La Mirada, 2-1.

The Eagles (8-2-1) are off to their best start in Coach Jessica Perry’s seven-year tenure. They appear to be the favorite in the Orange Coast League, after finishing second to Laguna Beach last year, and also appear capable of making a deep CIF run. Estancia was ranked No. 3 in the most recent CIF Southern Section Division 5 poll.

Estancia has not made it past the second round of CIF in Perry’s tenure.

The Eagles open league play on Jan. 13 at home against Calvary Chapel.