Brea, Narbonne to Meet in 1999

Basketball fans should keep Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999 clear on their calendars.

That’s the date Brea Olinda will host Harbor City Narbonne in a girls’ basketball game that could ultimately decide the mythical national champion for that season.

Narbonne is currently ranked seventh by USA Today, and Brea Olinda 12th. Brea is ranked first in California by Cal-Hi Sports, Narbonne second. Both should be better next year.

“I’ve heard rumors that if Narbonne wins the rest of its games,” Brea Coach Jeff Sink said, “they’ll go into next season ranked No. 2 or 3 [nationally].”

Finalizing the matchup ends season-long rhetoric about one team’s unwillingness to play the other when both are willing to play anyone.

“I think it’s a real nice matchup for Orange County and L.A.,” Brea Coach Jeff Sink said. “You have a unique situation where you have two highly ranked national teams going into next season that are 30 miles apart, playing in a January game where people from all over can come watch and see a slight contrast in styles.

“It will be really good for girls’ basketball.”