Riptide to play in national tourney

The Newport-Mesa Riptide, a National Junior Basketball eighth-grade girls’ all-star team, will compete this weekend at the NJB Nationals at various high schools around the area.

The Riptide compete against Castro Valley on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. at Northwood High, then play Bakersfield at 11:45 a.m. at Tustin High.

They finish the day at Fullerton High against San Jose, and the tournament continues through the championship on Sunday.

Coach Don Daniels, who coaches along with Mike Tyre, said his Riptide team is just a complete team.

“It’s a complete team of above-average players,” Daniels said. “There’s no one big player for us. They just love basketball and love learning basketball, and it’s showing on the court.”

The Riptide features several players who plan to attend Newport-Mesa high schools next year.

Post players Silvie Reynolds, Daniela Gallardo and Gaby Rapp, as well as guards Duran Sharp, Saylor Schroff and Jenna Vogalout, plan to play at Corona del Mar High.

Power forwards Kelly Haradsa and Taylor Bower are Costa Mesa High-bound, and Nicole Dinatale, who Daniels calls “the complete, play me anywhere player,” will attend Newport Harbor.

Ammie Holden will attend Edison.

“[NJB] really does help the kids go to that next level,” Daniels said. “It helps them appreciate basketball and enjoy the sport.”

The team averaged 40 points per game and allowed just 20 in NJB sectionals on March 24-25, Daniels said. The Riptide won the sectional, going 4-0 in the tournament.

Matt Szabo