Laguna Beach Coach Hopes Plan Works Again

Ed Bowen, Laguna Beach coach, has a simple plan for his team’s Sea View League matchup tonight against Saddleback: stick with past strategies.

Simply put, that means double teamming guard Bryant Walton, and relying on 6-foot-6 forward Coby Naess on offense. At least that’s what worked the last time the Artists played Saddleback. The Artists won, 63-59.

“We’ll go with what’s been taking us to the dance, or however they say that,” said Bowen, whose team is in third place with a 6-4 record (12-8 overall) and is battling for the third and final playoff spot against fourth-place Saddleback (5-5, 10-10).

The Roadrunners are tied for fourth with University and Estancia.

“One look at the standings and you know this game is definitely important,” Bowen said. “Saddleback’s got to be looking at them, too. They would be tied for third if they beat us.”

So once again, the Artists will concentrate on stopping Walton, who scored 38 points in Monday night’s double-overtime loss to Woodbridge.

Bowen will be counting on Naess, who is averaging 22.9 points a game, and guard Billy Elsten (11 points) to provide the offense. Elsten had 28 and Naess 25 points in Laguna Beach’s victory over Costa Mesa Monday night.

“We’ll just keep on doing the same thing we’ve been doing,” Bowen said. “Try to get the ball into Coby and if they double up on him, we’ll kick it out to Billy.”

Also, University (5-5, 9-11) is at Corona del Mar (8-2, 18-4), Woodbridge (7-3, 18-5) is at Costa Mesa (0-10, 1-16) and Estancia (5-5, 12-9) is at Newport Harbor (4-6, 10-10).