Youth Basketball: Blazers remain undefeated

The Blazers, a third- and fourth-grade team, are just one victory

away from completing a perfect season in the Newport Mesa National Junior

Basketball League. The Blazers (12-0) came back to beat Cypress, 36-32,

in their second game of the Championship Series. Danny Moskovits led the

Blazers in scoring and rebounding, while Maxwell Haase, Troy McClanahan

and Michael Pearce sparked several fastbreaks.

The Blazers fell behind, 17-9, in the first period, but coaches John

O’Hara and Len Moskovits adjusted and defense was key behind the efforts

of Neal O’Hara, Jeremy Jeranko, Jonathan Picarelli, David Penner and

Joseph Eggers.

In the Championship series, the Blazers have defeated two previously

unbeaten teams in Garden Grove and Cypress.

In Eastbluff Boys and Girls Club Basketball action, the fourth-grade

Magic defeated the Lakers, 32-28, in the playoff quarterfinals. Chase

Friedensburg, Grant Templeton and Andrew Fulcher played sparked the

offense. The Magic defense was led by Drew Byers, Harlan Webster and

Parker Rhoades. The Lakers’ Kyle Hill and Benjamin Noe kept their team

close with solid defensive efforts.