Newport Harbor Overpowers Marina in Sunset League Opener with Stellar Defense and Shooting (2024)

Huntington Beach – Vikings Gym

In their Sunset League opener on Wednesday night, the Newport Harbor High boys’ basketball team faced a challenging test against a Marina squad that returned much of its roster from last year’s CIF championship run. Despite the tough assignment, the Sailors rose to the occasion, securing a commanding 60-43 victory.

Senior guard Jack Berry led the way for Newport Harbor, delivering a standout performance with game-highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds. Berry set the tone early, scoring 10 points in the first quarter as the Sailors built an early lead.

“We’ve got to bring the energy,” Berry said. “These past few games, we’ve been slacking a little bit, but energy-wise we were there tonight. It seemed like after halftime, they were kind of shaken up by what we have to show in the first half, so energy was the main thing for us to get the win tonight.”

Berry’s defensive presence was also key, as he matched up against Marina senior point guard Barak Simon, a returning standout from the Vikings’ championship team. Berry’s versatility impressed Sailors coach Bob Torribio.

“He’s a tremendous volleyball player, and the last couple of years he’s just done a great job of competing at both ends,” Torribio said. “Everybody knows he’s a leaper and scorer, but when he’s defending like he can, he’s really tough to score on with that athleticism. It’s hard to simulate his length until you go up against it.”

Junior Owen Saukkola added 16 points for the Sailors, knocking down four three-pointers, including a key shot early in the fourth quarter that stalled a Marina rally. “It was all my teammates, honestly,” Saukkola said. “We all trust each other to make big shots.”

Marina freshman guard Shane Gloger was the only Viking to score in double digits with 10 points, while Simon added nine. Marina head coach Nick Racklin acknowledged the team’s struggles with rebounding and consistency.

“Our body language tonight wasn’t great,” Racklin said. “It was not fun and I did not expect that … I think we’ve gotten good at underestimating opponents.”

Newport Harbor improves to 10-3 and will travel to Fountain Valley next, while Marina (9-5) looks to bounce back against Corona del Mar on Friday.