PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Laguna Beach Prospers at Free-Throw Line

Laguna Beach made 18 consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter and served notice it’s going to be one of the teams to beat in the Southern Section’s Division 4-A playoffs with an 83-78 victory over Laguna Hills in the Pacific Coast League finale for both teams.

Laguna Beach (16-9, 7-3 in league), the smallest public high school in Orange County, finished second in the six-team league against schools twice its size. The tough schedule should benefit the Artists in divisional play, beginning Tuesday, that is based on school enrollments.

“I don’t think we’ll face a team any better than Laguna Hills in the playoffs,” said Bret Fleming, Laguna Beach coach. “This win is a big confidence builder going into the playoffs.” Guard Josh Borella, the only returning starter from last year’s team that advanced to a sectional championship game, scored 12 of his 29 points in the last quarter to give the Artists the victory. He came into the game averaging 30.8 points.

Borella made six free throws in the final two minutes to hold off Laguna Hills (13-10, 6-4). Laguna Beach made only three field goals in the last quarter but was deadly at the free-throw line.

“The kids hit some big ones (free throws) down the stretch and showed a lot of heart,” Fleming said. “Josh was tough, but he’s carried us all season. The outcome of games has been on his shoulders all year, so tonight was nothing new.”

Laguna Beach has averaged 72% from the free-throw line as a team, but the Artists missed only two of its 27 free throws and added nine three-point shots.

“They’re not very big, but they all shoot pretty well,” said Dave Brown, Laguna Hills coach. “They’ll be tough in their playoff division.”

If Laguna Hills hopes to advance beyond the qualifying round of Division III-AA on Tuesday, the Hawks are going to have to do a better job of handling the ball. Laguna Hills committed 22 turnovers and had problems getting the ball inside to its best player, forward Paul La Mott.

La Mott finished with 25 points, but scored only 10 points in the second half. He made 11 of 14 shot attempts and added nine rebounds.

“He’s the most efficient player I’ve ever coached,” Brown said. “He played five varsity games last year, but made the most dramatic improvement in a season of any player I’ve ever coached.”

La Mott broke former Laguna Hills star Chris Sheff’s single-season scoring record this week. He averages 24.4 points per game and is shooting 70% from the field.

“I’m just glad they don’t go inside to him more, because we don’t have anyone who can guard him,” Fleming said.

In other league games:

Estancia 78, Costa Mesa 41--Paul McDaniels had 11 points, and Matt Fuerbringer and Son Ly had nine each as host Estancia breezed. Jeff Pickens had 11 points for Costa Mesa. League champion Estancia ends the regular season 21-4, 10-0.

Century 47, Trabuco Hills 45--George Barragan hit a 15-footer with two seconds left as host Century (11-12, 3-7) won at home. Jason Welty scored 12 for Century.