Laguna the team to beat in OCL
Having survived a challenging nonleague schedule to start its season, the Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball team faced a few more trials in the first two games in Orange Coast League play: trips to defending league champion Godinez, followed by a matchup Wednesday at Costa Mesa.
The Breakers passed both those tests, comfortably.
In game No. 2 of a 10-game league season, Laguna led wire-to-wire at Costa Mesa and downed the Mustangs, 60-51. The Breakers pulled away from a 27-22 halftime lead by outscoring the Mustangs, 22-13, in the third quarter. They maintained a double-digit lead late into the game to improve to 2-0 in league and 13-5 overall.
Laguna entered the game ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division 4AA.
Sophomore forward Blake Burzell led the scoring with 17 points. Senior guard Darin Richardson and senior center Nick Rahder both had 12 points, senior guard Isaac Wulff scored eight points, sophomore forward Adam Armstrong six points, sophomore guard Charlie Rounaghi three points, and senior guard Spencer Wong two points.
“I thought we played a pretty good game,” Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said. “We came out and played with intensity, we defended well, and played good team basketball. We didn’t necessarily shoot that great but we shared the ball well, and I thought Nick [Rahder] played big basketball and had a real good game.”
Last year, Godinez won its first OCL title in boys’ basketball. Laguna, which had won the previous seven league titles, took its first step toward recapturing it by running past the Grizzlies, 67-48. Burzell again topped the scoring with 20 points. Richardson scored 17, Wulff 13, Rahder eight, Wong three, and Rounaghi, junior forward Ryan Meisberger and junior guard Karam Jones completed the scoring with two points apiece.
The Breakers expanded on a 28-21 halftime lead by outscoring the Grizzlies, 20-10, in the third quarter.
“In the first half I thought we, maybe, shot the ball too quickly,” Fleming said. “Maybe we were too pumped up, knowing how big this first league game was. In the second half, we settled down, moved the ball around and played really well and played hard.
“Godinez always is a team that plays you hard, and they run a slow game. I thought we did a good job of meeting the challenge.”
With the season now five weeks old, the Breakers, who have played 18 games, finally will make get a home game at Dugger Gym Friday when they host Saddleback at 7 p.m. They are back on the road Monday for Coach Mike’s Long Shot Challenge, a one-day showcase to raise money for pediatric cancer, and will face Whittier Cal Hi at 2 p.m. at the Estancia High gymnasium. They resume OCL play at 7 p.m. Wednesday hosting Estancia.
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Girls’ Basketball
The Breakers went on the road twice in the past week and scored impressive Orange Coast League victories over Costa Mesa and Godinez.
Tuesday at Costa Mesa, senior guard/forward Jackie Cenan and senior forward Alexandra Lewis combined for 43 points in a 55-29 rout. Cenan led the scoring with 17 points and 15 of Lewis’ 17 points came from three-point range.
Junior guard/forward Rachel Kenney scored eight points and junior guard Nicole Davidson and junior forward Marissa Lee each had two points.
The Breakers broke away from a tight game early to lead 18-9 after one quarter. Their pressure defense led to turnovers and received key offensive rebounds from Kenney in the second quarter where they stretched the lead to 34-15 at the half.
Sophomore guard Jasmine Banks and senior guard Ashley Brown gave strong defensive performances for the Breakers who ran their overall record to 11-6.
“We played a complete game on both ends of the floor,” Laguna Coach Mark Lewis said.
Cenan poured in a game-best 24 points and Lewis again was deadly from three-point range, connecting four times, and had 14 points, as the Breakers began league play with a 51-41 win at Godinez.
Davidson and Kenney scored nine and four points, respectively.
The Breakers jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind two free throws and a three-pointer from Davidson, and a three-pointer from Lewis. They led throughout and held double-digit leads at the half and entering the fourth quarter.
“We played perhaps our best game of the season,” Mark Lewis said. “We always have tough games against Godinez and they are a grind.
“That was a very good win, to beat a tough Godinez team in their gym on the opening night of league play. It sets us up well for the first half of league play. We know when Godinez visits us (Jan. 28) in our gym, that it will be a tough battle. They will be looking to settle a score as we are all chasing Estancia for a shot at a league title.”
The Breakers hosted Saddleback Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time. In league action next week, they host Estancia (No. 13, CIF-SS Division 4AA) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and travel Thursday for a 6 p.m. game at Calvary Chapel.
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CIF Weekly Rankings
Boys’ Basketball: No. 10, Division 4AA.
