Pacific Coast League : Trabuco Hills Gets Win but Not Much Praise

Trabuco Hills High School played well enough to defeat Woodbridge, 71-56, in a Pacific Coast League boys’ basketball game Wednesday at Trabuco Hills, but not well enough to impress Mustang Coach Rainer Wulf.

When Trabuco Hills was in the middle of a 7-point first-quarter run, Wulf was pounding on his chair.

And while the Mustangs were building a 9-point lead in the second quarter, Wulf was letting off steam at the water cooler.

“We had guys missing wide open layups. It was like they were on cloud nine the entire game,” said Wulf, who knelt down in disgust with his forehead on his seat after one blown layup.

The Mustangs (13-5 overall, 5-0 and in first place in the league), took an 8-3 lead before Woodbridge (5-10, 3-2) stormed back to take a 12-8 lead.

But Trabuco Hills reeled off the next 10 points, including 5 by Chad Poulos, to take a 6-point lead after one quarter.

The Warriors rallied to get within 2 points early in the second quarter, but Trabuco Hills came right back behind 9 points from guard Randy Kriech and took a 9-point halftime lead at 32-23.

The Mustangs held their lead in the second half as 6-foot 10-inch center Rick Swanwick scored 13 of his game-high 23 points.

Woodbridge made 10 of 11 free throws in the third quarter and trailed, 51-41.

Swanwick, who had 9 rebounds and 6 blocks, scored 8 points in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs coasted to the victory.

Woodbridge made 20 of 28 free throws. Trabuco Hills made 11 of 15.

Joey Cohen scored 15 points to lead the Warriors.

Laguna Hills 76, Orange 61--Chris Sheff scored 23 points to lead Laguna Hills (12-7, 4-1) over host Orange (3-13, 1-4). Laguna Hills led, 48-32, early in the third quarter before Orange went on a 15-2 tear to end the third quarter trailing by 3 points, 50-47.

In the fourth quarter, Laguna Hills made 8 of 8 free throws, 5 by Sheff, to outscore Orange, 26-14. Pat Nelson scored 18 points and Beau Hossler 15 for Laguna Hills. Orange’s John Rodriguez hit 4 3-point shots on his way to a team-high 22 points. Teammate Rick Afalava added 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Costa Mesa 61, Laguna Beach 60 (2 OT)--Young Chang scored 18 points and Jose Casas 16 as Costa Mesa (2-13, 1-4) snapped at 12-game losing streak. Tuan Vu and Hieu Nguyen each scored 13 points for the Mustangs. John Trevino scored 24 points and Dain Blanton 22 for Laguna Beach (7-9, 1-4).