No. 3 Woodbridge Dominates Newport Harbor

Woodbridge players aren’t willing to say the Sea View League race is over, but two games into the season, the Warriors have taken 40- and 29-point leads against the two teams most likely to challenge for the league title.

The most recent annihilation was Tuesday, as Woodbridge, ranked third in Orange County, used an oppressive defense to defeat visiting Newport Harbor, 64-40.

“We’re as good as we want to be at times,” said Krissy Duperron, who scored a game-high 13. “When we pull together, we look real good.”

And they looked fabulous in the first half, causing 16 turnovers and shooting 55%.

Within the first 2 minutes 16 seconds, the Warrior defense had five steals that led to 10 points and a 12-0 lead. By the time Newport Harbor scored its second basket, the game was decided--Woodbridge led, 17-2, and the Sailors (23 turnovers) were throwing the ball away on their own.

“We came out flat and they came out hot,” Newport Harbor Coach Bob Dukus said. “By the time we settled down, they had already lit it up so bright.”

Bright? Woodbridge made 11 of 17 shots in the first quarter for a 27-6 lead. It was 42-14 at halftime against a team that gets consideration every week for the top 10.

“I looked at the scoreboard and it was like, ‘Whoa,’ ” said Nicole Roberts, who had two steals and eight points in the first quarter, including six in the 12-0 run.

The performance by Woodbridge (11-3, 2-0 in league) follows its 87-52 victory over El Toro (14-3). Woodbridge shot 54% against El Toro; against Newport Harbor (9-8, 1-1) Woodbridge shot 52%.

“I don’t know if [the Warriors] are deep,” Dukus said, “but their five starters are incredible.”

In other Sea View League games:

Santa Margarita 71, Corona del Mar 38--Carlie Willard scored 19 points and Ariel Boucly added 12 for host Santa Margarita (13-5, 1-1), ranked fourth in Division II-AA. Corona del Mar’s Lindsay Warmington, averaging a county-leading 31.4 points, was held to six points.

El Toro 73, Irvine 64--Giuliana Mendiola scored 10 of her 35 points in a 28-13 second quarter, as visiting El Toro (14-3, 1-1) outlasted Irvine (9-7, 1-1).