Newport Harbor captures championship of Western Classic with victory over Servite

Newport Harbor’s boys basketball team after winning the Western Classic. (Photo courtesy Newport basketball).

Newport Harbor’s boys basketball team, which earlier won the championship at the Louie Macias Tournament at Santa Ana, came away with another title Saturday at the Western Classic.

The Sailors defeated Servite 64-63 in the final to improve their record to 9-3 going into a holiday break.

“We beat California, Valencia and Ocean View to reach the final against Servite,” said Newport Harbor Coach Robert Torribio.

Marcel Aguilar made two free throws with two seconds left to put the Sailors ahead 64-63. He wound up with 24 points.

Aguilar averaged 21 points a game, shot 68 percent from field, was five of five on 3-pointers and shot 73 percent from the free throw line to earn MVP honors, Torribio said.

The Sailors’ Hudson Witting was named all tournament. Standout Newport Harbor player Owen Saukkola also played well in the tournament, the coach said. Saukkola scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds in the team’s final pool play game, a 73-40 win over Ocean View.

Tariq Johnson II scored 25 points, Saiger Smith had 13 points and Carlos Galvan 10 points for Servite (10-3) in the final. The Friars Jake Schutt and Johnson II were named to the all-tournament team.

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