Laguna Beach rolls in opener

Laguna Beach’s eighth-grade National Junior Basketball team opened

up its winter season this week with a convincing, 43-20 victory over

Cypress.

The team continued on its roll from completing an undefeated fall

season en route to a league championship.

The play of Bobby Monroe and Brian Delino dominated the inside for

Laguna.

The duo hit the boards and scored on several put-back baskets and

each finished with a double-double: Monroe scored 13 points to go

with a game-high 16 rebounds, and Delino contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Paced by a relentless defense, Laguna raced to a 29-8 halftime

advantage.

That 19-point cushion allowed Laguna to overcome a cold-shooting

second half of play that saw the team net just 14 points.

Cypress, however, could get no closer than 16 points in the final

half.

Chris Hyden led Laguna’s offense in the second half with six

points to finish with eight overall. He also had a game-best five

assists and added five rebounds.

Ty Fleming scored five points and hit Laguna’s only three-point

shot. Nathan Picket finished with seven rebounds, Brennan Healey had

six rebounds and point guard Ian Butters ran the offense.

Laguna returns to the court on Sunday to battle the Encinitas

Magic in a 2:45 p.m. tipoff at Laguna Beach High.