Maximize your cardio with the best air bikes

• January 23, 2025

Which air bike is best?

If you’re looking for a way to start burning some serious calories, an air bike may be just the ticket. Unlike many other types of exercise bikes that offer steady resistance, air bikes get harder the faster and more intensely you pedal. This makes them a good choice for raising your heart rate and pushing your body to its very limits.

There are several things to consider when purchasing an air bike, including the features it offers, how well it conforms to your body and how comfortable it is. Your budget and space constraints also play a role in your decision. The Schwinn Fitness AD Pro Airdyne Fan Bike is a top choice because it offers a lot of adjustability for tall and short users alike, and it features an informative display panel to track your metrics or follow along with HIIT programs.

What to know before you buy an air bike

How air bikes produce resistance

Unlike some other styles of exercise bikes that may use magnets or a heavy flywheel to create resistance, air bikes rely solely on air. They’re equipped with fans that may have anywhere from five to 30 large blades. As you pedal, the fan spins, creating wind resistance. The faster and harder you pedal, the greater the resistance becomes. This means they essentially offer infinite resistance levels.

Stability

Stability is key for the safe operation of any piece of fitness equipment, but especially so on something you’ll be pedaling intensely like an air bike. There are several factors that determine an air bike’s stability, including the size of its footprint and the overall build quality. Those with a wider and longer footprint are more stable, as are those with a sturdier and heavier build.

Noise

One of the biggest complaints about air bikes is the noise they create, and the harder and faster you pedal, the louder they get. At high intensities, the noise can be comparable to a vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable, as there’s no way for fan blades to spin quickly through the air without creating noise. That said, at medium intensities, which is what most people tend to pedal at for any extended period of time, the noise level shouldn’t be loud enough to disturb anyone not in the same room.

What to look for in a quality air bike

Adjustability

It’s important to be able to adjust exercise equipment to your body for the most ergonomic workout. In the case of an air bike, this means an adjustable seat that can move up and down at the very least, but ideally also forward and backward. If the model has stationary handles, those, too, should be height-adjustable.

Comfortable seat

A wide and well-padded seat can go a long way toward keeping you comfortable on your air bike and exercising for longer.

Performance tracking

Tracking your performance metrics is key to improving your fitness levels and motivating yourself to excel. Air bikes that offer performance tracking have a small display panel that can show distance, speed, calories burned and RPM. Some models may also connect with a dedicated app for longer-term fitness tracking.

Fitness programs

Getting an air bike and pedaling at a consistent speed is great, but you can really ramp up your exercise routines with fitness programs that push you to work out harder. These are generally only found on premium models and include various HIIT sessions.

Foot pegs

Most air bikes are a bit like ellipticals in that they have moving handles to work out both your upper and lower body. Models with foot pegs provide you with a stationary place to put your feet when you want to focus just on upper body conditioning.

Multiple grips

Multiple grips on an air bike serve two purposes: they allow you to change up your hand positioning either for specific fitness reasons or to offer some variety during your workout to keep you from getting uncomfortable. They may also allow multiple people to use an air bike without having to adjust the seat in between each user.

Weight capacity

Every air bike has a maximum user weight capacity that should never be exceeded. On the most basic models, this may be as little as 200 pounds. Some more premium air bikes may accommodate users up to 400 pounds.

Wheels

If you don’t have a lot of space in your home and plan on moving your air bike out of the way when not actively in use, wheels are a non-negotiable necessity. They allow one person to move the bike around relatively easily as needed without having to worry about damaging floors or lifting the entire machine.

How much you can expect to spend on an air bike

The most affordable air bikes start at around $200. Premium and commercial models with all the bells and whistles can cost anywhere from $500-$1,500.

Air bike FAQ

How many calories can I burn on an air bike?

A. There’s no definitive answer for this on any exercise equipment because the amount of calories your body burns doing a particular activity is personal, and no two people will get the same results. It also depends on the intensity level. That said, most people can burn somewhere from 10-30 calories per minute on an air bike. One particular personal trainer holds a record of burning 87 calories in a single minute on an air bike.

Can I adjust the resistance on an air bike?

A. The resistance isn’t manually adjustable on almost any air bikes. Instead, it increases dynamically as you pedal harder and the wind resistance increases.

What’s the best air bike to buy?

Top air bike

Schwinn Fitness AD Pro Airdyne Fan Bike

What you need to know: This calorie-burning machine features a single-stage belt drive for smooth action and a large display panel to track your fitness metrics.

What you’ll love: It has several HIIT programs to help push you to your limits, and it feels extremely stable even when pedaling at high intensities. Also, it’s equipped with foot pegs for those times you want to focus solely on upper body conditioning.

What you should consider: Some users complain the seat is uncomfortable.

Top air bike for the money

Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike

What you need to know: Despite coming at a reasonable price, this Marcy Upright Fan Bike has many of the same features as premium models, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.

What you’ll love: It tracks time, speed, distance, calories and RPM to keep you abreast of your fitness metrics. The fan also sends air toward your body to keep you cool during workouts.

What you should consider: It doesn’t allow full range of motion of the arms for people over 6 feet tall.

Worth checking out

Assault Fitness Assault AirBike Elite

What you need to know: It commands a high price tag, but this commercial-quality bike boasts all the bells and whistles serious fitness enthusiasts could ask for.

What you’ll love: You can adjust the seat up and down and forward and backward to achieve the best ergonomics for your body. The highly detailed display panel shows you every metric you want to know about your workout, and it even connects to mobile devices via Bluetooth for transferring that data to an app.

What you should consider: The display isn’t backlit and can be hard to see in dim light.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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​ Orange County Register 

Power your workouts with these top soy protein powders

• January 23, 2025

Which soy protein powder is best?

Getting enough protein in your diet can be more challenging than it seems, especially if you live an active lifestyle. Soy protein powders can supplement your diet with essential amino acids, protein and other nutrients.

For anyone following a strict diet, soy protein powder is an excellent way to bolster your protein intake. If you want a high-quality soy protein powder, consider Now Sports Soy Protein Isolate Protein Powder. You’ll get 20 grams of protein per scoop, and it mixes easily with other juices and smoothies.

What to know before you buy a soy protein powder

Diet

If you follow a regular diet, you have the freedom to take other kinds of protein powders. However, for those following a strict diet such as vegan or keto, a soy protein powder is a great way to get a healthy dose of protein. Soy protein powders usually contain only two ingredients, soy protein and soy lecithin, so you don’t need to worry about consuming animal byproducts or foods that go against your diet.

Soy protein vs. whey protein

Soy protein powders have soy protein isolate, which is derived from soybeans. Soy protein isolate is high in protein but low in carbohydrates, so it doesn’t naturally have a pleasant taste or texture.

Whey protein isolate is derived from dairy, usually cow’s milk. And both soy and whey protein have a thorough essential amino acid profile. However, if you’re looking to build lean muscle mass or lose weight, whey proteins have a higher concentration of amino acids that facilitate these things, making them ideal.

Side effects

If you have a weak stomach, you might experience side effects when taking protein powders. Since soy protein powders don’t contain any animal byproducts, the chances of experiencing side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, indigestion, acne breakouts or bloating are significantly lower, but they’re still possible.

If you experience unpleasant symptoms after drinking soy protein, stop immediately and consult your physician before trying another one.

What to look for in a quality soy protein powder

High protein

The whole point of consuming soy protein powder is to get a good protein fix, so it’s best to find one offering a high amount per serving. Generally, most whey protein powders provide 18-30 grams, but soy protein powders usually have less, roughly 15 to 24. Usually, the less protein, the easier a powder is on your stomach and digestive system. If you need an additional boost, you can always increase the volume of your servings.

Low carbohydrates

Many people who take protein diet supplements do so to get enough nutrients while lowering their daily caloric intake. This is done to facilitate weight loss, but it’s not as effective if carbohydrates are prevalent in the diet. A protein powder with a low amount of total carbohydrates, typically under 2 grams, is ideal if you want to lose weight.

No artificial sweeteners, colors or additional flavors

Flavorless protein powders can be a drag, but if you can’t find one with a low concentration of natural sugars, you’re better off going with a pure flavorless powder. Artificial sweeteners act as a substitute for natural sugars, and while that may sound appealing, they can increase sugar cravings and promote weight gain.

How much you can expect to spend on soy protein powder

It depends on the size, but for a container of 1 to 2 pounds, expect to pay $10-$25. However, some can cost up to $40, depending on their ingredients and nutrient profile.

Soy protein powder FAQ

Is soy protein powder safe during pregnancy?

A. Yes. However, like everything else, it’s best to monitor your soy protein intake and consume it in moderation.

Is soy protein a complete protein?

A. Yes, it contains nine essential amino acids.

Are there any health benefits of soy protein?

A. Soy protein can promote a healthier digestive system. Also, a meta-analysis of 46 studies reviewed by the FDA found that soy protein can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

What’s the best soy protein powder to buy?

Top soy protein powder

Now Sports Soy Protein Isolate Protein Powder

What you need to know: This powder offers an excellent vegetable source of high-quality protein and is suitable for all kinds of diets.

What you’ll love: This powder contains just 90 calories and half a gram of total fat per serving. It has a thorough amino acid profile, contain 20 grams of protein, and has naturally occurring proteins and enzymes for efficient muscle recovery. Also, since it’s flavorless, you can mix it with sports drinks or smoothies.

What you should consider: It doesn’t blend easily with soy milk, and some customers find the taste and texture unpleasant.

Top soy protein powder for the money

Puritan’s Pride Soy Protein Isolate Powder

What you need to know: This protein powder is low in fat and carbohydrates, making it great for those who want a healthy snack between meals.

What you’ll love: This powder contains 110 calories and just 1 gram of fat per serving. It’s available in natural, chocolate and vanilla, and has an extensive amino acid profile, making it ideal for athletes and casual weightlifters. Plus, it’s cholesterol free and can be mixed with juices.

What you should consider: It’s lumpy when mixed by hand with water or juices, and some customers found the natural flavor too bland.

Worth checking out

BulkSupplements Soy Protein Isolate Powder

What you need to know: It’s a good choice if you’re looking for something that offers lots of protein per serving and has no carbs.

What you’ll love: It has 27 grams of protein per serving and has no sugar or carbohydrates. It’s got a smooth, silky texture, so you won’t have any grainy bits in your drink.

What you should consider: It tends to settle quickly, so you need to keep stirring until it mixes in.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

​ Orange County Register 

Crews work to extinguish fire in waste management facility in Irvine

• January 23, 2025

Firefighters worked to battle a fire at a waste management facility in the 16000 block of Construction Circle, near Warner Avenue and Jamboree Road, in Irvine just before 10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Personnel were using bulldozers to get to the “seat” of the fire, Capt. Thanh Nguyen said.

“There is smoke that may be seen, but there are no embers coming from the fire. Please keep your doors & windows closed if you are in the area,” the agency wrote on X.

It was unknown how long it would take to extinguish the blaze, but fire burning in a pile of trash can often take some time to put out, Nguyen said.

The Irvine Police Department was assisting and noted on social media: “There is a significant amount of smoke in the area.”

​ Orange County Register 

Depleted Clippers give Celtics all they can handle in OT loss

• January 23, 2025

INGLEWOOD — Clippers coach Tyronn Lue sat speechless at the podium for several moments before Wednesday night’s game against the Boston Celtics.

With a game like this, without six of your top eight rotation players, what are you looking forward to the most?

A few more seconds went by.

“I don’t know,” Lue said.

With Kawhi Leonard sitting out his second game in a row and joined by James Harden, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Kris Dunn and Nicolas Batum on the bench, the outlook was bleak for the Clippers. These were the reigning NBA champion Celtics after all, who at 31-13 have the third-best record in the league. The team with the two-pronged punch of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

What Lue couldn’t have imagined 90 minutes before tipoff was that the Clippers would be competitive, pushing the Celtics until the final minute before falling in overtime, 117-113, at the Intuit Dome.

“When you play hard, you can compete. That’s what happens. You’re in every game. You have a chance to win and still at the end,” Lue said. “But like I said, I’m proud of our guys, our young guys, for getting the opportunity to play and doing a good job.”

Derrick Jones Jr. scored a career-high 29 points (17 in the first quarter) to lead the Clippers. Kevin Porter Jr. added a season-high 26 and Amir Coffey had 24 in a game that featured 16 ties and 25 lead changes.

“I’m very confident in the group that we got, no matter who steps out on the floor,” Jones said. “We got the chemistry that we have, and I mean the belief that we have in each other is through the roof. So, nothing surprised me today.”

By overtime, the Clippers appeared to have little left as they struggled to score while the Celtics buried back-to-back 3-pointers to begin the extra period and take a 109-103 lead less than a minute into OT.

After a layup by Jones, Jaylen Brown buried another long-range shot for a 112-105 lead.

But the Clippers weren’t done.

With 30 seconds left, Coffey completed a three-point play to cut the margin to 115-113 before time ran out on the Clippers’ potential upset.

The Celtics’ Neemias Queta closed the scoring with a reverse layup with six seconds left.

“We just knew what we had to do, which was basically play hard, play defense, and then just be aggressive on the offensive end,” said Terance Mann, who along with Coffey played 45 minutes. “And I think we did a great job of that. They hit a couple tough 3’s, so that kind of set us back in the overtime period.”

Jones had tied the score at 103-all with four seconds left in regulation, then batted away an attempted pass to send the game into overtime.

Nine Clippers stuck with the Celtics throughout the game.

Jones took the task of the Clippers facing the Celtics without their stars in stride. He said it’s always “next man up” with the Clippers.

“I just took it like another game,” Jones said. “Obviously I was just a little bit more aggressive, just getting my shots off, but it was just another game.”

Down 96-91 with less than four minutes left in regulation, Jones trimmed the lead with a floater, but the Celtics answered for a six-point lead.

Jones, whose role has been reduced since Leonard’s return earlier this month, was hit in the head by Jaylen Brown on a layup and remained down on the court for several minutes before making both free throws. Coffey made a free throw on a technical foul called on Derrick White to pull the Clippers within 101-97.

After Brown made two free throws, Terance Mann kept the Clippers’ hopes of an upset alive with a reverse layup to trim the lead to 103-99 with a minute left.

Coffey broke free for a basket with 12 seconds remaining to cut the lead 103-101.

The Clippers had led 89-83 on Coffey’s turnaround jumper shortly into the fourth quarter but their lead faded fast as the Celtics got into a rhythm.

White’s pull up 3-pointer put Boston ahead 90-89 with 8:40 left much to the delight of the green-clad fans who filled much of the section opposite of The Wall.

Tatum buried his third 3-pointer of the game for a 93-89 lead, followed by a 29-footer from White for the Celtics’ biggest lead of the night (96-89).

The game was messy with the teams combining for 41 turnovers (the Clippers turned it over 23 times).

“You hate to see a loss like that, but 23 turnovers makes it really hard to beat a good team,” Lue said. “We turned the ball over too many times, but our guys kept fighting, kept competing down to the wire.”

Still the Clippers trailed by just one at halftime (60-59) behind Jones, who got the Clippers’ hopes going with his strong first quarter. He finished the night with seven rebounds and three assists. Coffey had 14 of his points in the first quarter as well.

And players such as Bones Hyland (eight points), Jordan Miller (six points) and Kobe Brown (11 rebound, two blocked shots) made the most of their opportunity.

Lue said before the Clippers’ current stretch of six games in nine nights, that his approach would be to take it “game by game.” The team would prioritize the players’ health and well-being and sit them if necessary. This was one of those games.

“We have a lot of guys on the team with some little nagging injuries that we got to try to be careful with,” Lue said.

The Clippers have two more home games on Thursday and Saturday before going on the road for four games in eight days on a trip that takes them from Phoenix to San Antonio to Charlotte to Toronto.

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points and Tatum had 24 to pace the Celtics. White added 20 points and Sam Hauser had 15. The Celtics were vulnerable, having lost six of their past 10 games heading into the first of back-to-back games in Los Angeles. They play at the Lakers on Thursday.

They also had three key players out – Jrue Holiday (shoulder), Al Horford (toe) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).

​ Orange County Register 

Suspect in 8 armed robberies arrested in Garden Grove

• January 23, 2025

GARDEN GROVE — A 52-year-old Garden Grove man has been arrested on suspicion of multiple robberies in the city and elsewhere in Orange County, police said Wednesday.

David Zamarripa was arrested Tuesday, according to Garden Grove Police Department Sgt. Nick Jensen.

Police were investigating a string of armed robberies since the start of the year and noticed that five of them had similar characteristics, police said.

Detectives contacted law enforcement agencies elsewhere in the county and learned there were three more outside of Garden Grove that matched the same method of operation, police said.

Police arrested the suspect, who was under surveillance, as he was leaving a motel in Garden Grove. Police say they have recovered some evidence from the robberies as well as a possible weapon used in the holdups.

​ Orange County Register 

Kings rally past Panthers with 3rd-period magic

• January 23, 2025

LOS ANGELES — The Kings gutted out their 10th victory in their last 11 home games, 2-1, over the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.

That should send them off on their upcoming five-game road trip with a glide in their stride, albeit not with an abundance of offensive confidence.

Though they remained tied for the fewest goals of any team in 2025 (they have scored two goals or fewer in seven of their nine games), the Kings have also tied for the fewest goals against, allowing them to stay above .500 since the calendar turned at 5-4-0.

The Kings worked their third-period magic, converting a one-goal deficit into a one-goal victory in the final 20 minutes to move to 6-3-0 when tied or trailing at the second intermission at home. They have lost just four times on home ice this season overall, two fewer losses than any other team.

Samuel Helenius scored his first NHL goal before Adrian Kempe added a tally to his team-leading total. Darcy Kuemper was stalwart, stopping 27 shots.

Evan Rodrigues scored the Panthers’ only goal. Spencer Knight made 26 saves.

“Both teams deserve some credit. They both defend first. There’s no cheating in either team’s game. They both play a good brand of playoff hockey in the regular season,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice, whose team fell to 18-2-0 when leading after two periods. “There’s some skill there and some plays to be made, but not a lot. It wasn’t a lack of effort by either team. Both teams defend hard.”

With 6:48 to play, the Kings took their first lead of the night before protecting it effectively.

After losing control of a faceoff in the Florida zone, they recovered the puck on the forecheck and went to work. Brandt Clarke provided a rare game-breaking secondary assist, walking across the blue line and creeping all the way down below one faceoff circle before throwing a diagonal pass above the opposite circle. There, Kevin Fiala hammered a kneeling one-timer for Kempe to deflect past Knight for his team-topping 24th goal.

“(Clarke) made the big play. That was a big-time play by (Clarke) and it was nice to see,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “It’s been a while since he’s had one of those ones where he had the puck and you wondered what he was going to do, and he delivered.”

With the Kings’ goal drought lingering over their heads, they spoke the language of Hometown Buffet: meat, potatoes and grease. At the 6:41 mark, they made good on their rhetoric, knotting the score with a workmanlike marker.

Spence’s attempt from the point struck both Kings winger Tanner Jeannot and Florida defenseman Uvis Balinskis. From a prone position on the ice, Jeannot recovered to stab at the puck, creating a rebound that Helenius backhanded home for his first career goal.

The entire bench and four skaters on the ice all shared Helenius’ ebullience.

“It feels so good. Everyone’s excited, and myself, too. It’s so nice,” Helenius said.

In the second period, Florida carried some momentum from late in the first, earning the game’s first lead despite having played a night earlier, winning 5-2 on Tuesday at Honda Center to take a second straight game from the Ducks. They had also won five of six tail ends of back-to-back sets before Wednesday’s loss.

“We put our foot on the gas, and I thought we were a pretty good team in that second period,” Maurice said.

Maurice’s team will now have two days off before another pair of consecutive games, something he had never experienced in a head coaching career that began in the 1995-96 season.

“We’ve been afforded the opportunity to play a highly unique schedule this year,” Maurice said. “We like the opportunity to stretch ourselves and learn and grow.”

The Panthers got a goal from their second power-play unit at 7:27. Phillip Danault’s hooking minor turned into a deficit 1:36 later. Anton Lundell, who drew the penalty, collected a wide shot attempt and casually slipped a no-look pass off his backhand and through the goal crease for Rodrigues. Rodrigues nudged the puck into a gaping aperture for his second goal in as many nights and his third in four games.

“I got the puck from the end boards and I was able to see that (Rodrigues) was at the back post before I got it, and I touched it to him,” Lundell said.

The Kings’ best opportunities behind the defense were foiled by a lack of footspeed from Anže Kopitar and Trevor Lewis. They nearly equalized, but Kopitar also failed to finish a play that nearly passed the puck into the net, originating with Fiala and Spence and generating what could have been an uncontested tap-in for the Kings captain.

The first period came and went without a goal, despite three power plays.

Florida nearly scored 15 seconds into its opportunity but a quick whistle for a freeze denied Aleksander Barkov. Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, both top-line players for Florida, each had stick infractions in the first period. After Barkov’s penalty, the Kings looked lively and creative on an unsuccessful power play, only to get a pair of five-on-five goals from hard work and shots from the doorstep in the final frame.

“It was like a playoff game out there, and I think in the playoffs there aren’t too many nice plays to be made,” Fiala said. “Today, it was a tight game, they were on top of us everywhere. We wanted to simplify things, and we got the job done.”

​ Orange County Register 

Desmond Claude, Rashaun Agee help USC hold off Nebraska for another road win

• January 23, 2025

LINCOLN, Neb. — The USC men’s basketball team scratched and clawed its way to another Big Ten road win.

Desmond Claude had 21 points, Rashaun Agee scored all 14 of his in the second half and the Trojans rallied last in a 78-73 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday night, improving to 3-1 on the road in Big Ten play in their first season in the conference.

Brice Williams followed his layup with a 3-pointer to pull Nebraska even at 69-all with 1:19 left. Claude answered with a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left, but a Connor Essegian layup got the Cornhuskers within a point with 18 seconds left. Claude made a pair of free throws for a 74-71 advantage, but Berke Buyuktuncel scored inside to get Nebraska within 74-73 with 7.4 seconds left.

Wesley Yates III made a pair of free throws with 6.3 seconds left for a 76-73 lead, then Nebraska turned the ball over with 2.4 seconds left and Yates added two more free throws with 1.7 seconds left to hand the Cornhuskers their fifth straight loss.

Yates made all nine of his free throws and finished with 17 points and four steals.

Claude shot 8 for 18 from the field and added six assists for the Trojans (12-7 overall, 4-4 Big Ten). Agee, who had made six 3-pointers all season, came off the bench to go 4 for 6 from behind the arc and grab eight rebounds. Nebraska native Saint Thomas added 11 points.

Juwan Gary scored 16 of his career-high 27 points in the first half to lead the Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6), who have lost two straight at home after winning 20 in a row in Lincoln. He made 11 of 19 shots but missed all five of his 3-point attempts. Williams had 17 points and reserve Essegian hit three 3-pointers and scored 15.

Gary had 16 points and half of Nebraska’s 14 baskets to help the Cornhuskers take a 33-31 lead at halftime. Yates had nine points and Claude scored eight, hitting a jumper with seven seconds left to get USC within a possession.

The Trojans, facing Nebraska for the first time since 2012, were 0 for 9 from 3-point range while shooting 45.2% overall in the first half.

In a tight second half, USC used a 6-0 run to pull ahead 62-57 with 4:53 remaining. A 7-2 run by Nebraska, capped by a three-point play by Williams, tied the score at 64-64 with 3:24 left.

UP NEXT

The Trojans will host UCLA on Monday at 7 p.m.

​ Orange County Register 

Fountain Valley boys basketball stuns Newport Harbor by overcoming 21-point deficit

• January 23, 2025

NEWPORT BEACH — The Fountain Valley boys basketball team came into its Sunset League game against Newport Harbor on Wednesday in need of a victory to boost its playoff hopes.

It wasn’t looking good for the Barons, who trailed by 21 points midway through the third quarter at Newport Harbor High School.

But suddenly, long-range shots that hadn’t been falling began swishing through the hoop, and Barons came all the way back to earn a 62-58 victory over the Sailors.

The victory puts the Barons (16-8 overall, 3-5 league) in a fourth-place tie with the Sailors (15-9, 3-5) with four league games remaining for both teams.

“It kind of gets us back to the middle,” Barons coach Brendan Holmes said of the victory. “The goal is to try to go forward, beat the teams we’ve already beaten to help with any tiebreak situation.”

The Barons, who are ranked No. 20 in the county, have defeated Newport Harbor twice and would own the tiebreaker against the Sailors, who are No. 18 in the rankings.

Jack Berry scored 21 points in the first half to help the Sailors take a 16-point halftime lead.

Baskets on connective possessions by Vaughan Casey gave the Sailors a 45-24 lead in the third.

A pair of free throws from Troy Leach then kicked off an 18-2 run for the Barons.

Aaron DeSantiago, who finished with 21 points for the Barons, scored 14 points during the run, including three 3-pointers.

Devin Payne kept the surge going in the fourth for the Barons, hitting three 3-pointers, including a basket from behind the arc to tie the score at 50 and then a basket to give Fountain Valley a 52-50 lead with under five minutes remaining.

The score was tied twice in the final minutes before Payne’s basket put the Barons ahead for good, 60-58, with 30 seconds remaining.

Newport Harbor missed on the ensuing possession and was forced to start fouling.

The Sailors had three fouls to give but after the fourth foul, Payne hit a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to put the game away.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Barons.

“The last three games we came out kind of soft and tonight we did the same thing,” DeSantiago said. “And our coach kind of got on us about it. We all kind of took that and we used it as motivation to kind of go into the third and fourth quarter.”

Another big key to Fountain Valley’s comeback was holding Berry to four points in the third quarter and no points in the fourth.

“(Holmes) wanted me to start denying him and not helping at all,” said Payne, who was tasked with the job of guarding Berry. “After he pulled up and hit a three right in my mouth at the top of the key, that kind of hit me a little bit and made me take him a little more serious and get up on him more.”

Newport Harbor’s remaining league games are against Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Edison and Corona del Mar.

The Barons close out against Corona del Mar, Marina, Huntington Beach and Los Alamitos.

​ Orange County Register