Breakers claim first victory

Mike Sciacca

Laguna Beach High’s girls’ basketball team recorded its first win

of the season on Monday by beating visiting Buena Park, 48-20, in

nonleague action.

The Breakers opened up a 20-13 lead through one quarter of play,

and their defense did the rest.

Laguna held the Coyotes scoreless in the third quarter, and that

effort turned the game into a rout.

The Breakers finished the game with 18 steals.

Freshman guard Emily Friedman was Laguna’s top scorer with 11

points. She also added four assists.

Senior post player Leslie Schmalzried scored 10 points to go along

with eight rebounds, and senior post Katie Sexton pulled down 10

rebounds.

Sophomore guard Andrea Ventura hit three of five shots, four of

five free throws and also came up with six rebounds and five steals.

On Tuesday, the Breakers fell to Fullerton, 61-31. Friedman again

paced the Laguna attack with 16 points.

In earlier tournament action, Laguna Beach overcame an early

19-point deficit, trailed by just six at the half, but saw Savanna

use a third quarter burst to pull away to a 62-38 victory in a second

round consolation game at the Vernie Ford Classic.

Friedman scored 15 points and Schmalzried scored 10 in that game.

In boys’ basketball, it might be hard for Laguna Beach to top its

season-opener against Irvine.

Trailing by 23 points in the first half, the Breakers staged a

furious second half rally, forced overtime, and pulled out an 87-81

victory.

Kyle Hogan, a transfer from Villa Park, made his debut in a Laguna

Beach uniform a memorable one as he scored a game-high 35 points.

His outstanding performance included 17 for 21 from the field, a

pair of three-point baskets, 14 rebounds, four assists and two

steals.

Forward Alex Norfleet and point guard Peter Renault began their

senior seasons by hitting double figures with 14 and 12 points,

respectively.

Renault went four for five from three-point range and had five

assists. Norfleet hit two three-point shots.

Spencer Willhoit added 11 points, and Jake Wheeler came off the

bench to contribute seven rebounds.

The Breakers followed that incredible comeback win with a 62-42

drubbing of host Sage Hill. Hogan went seven for 10 from the field

and finished with 19 points in limited playing time.

Renault hit three three-point shots and finished with 11 points,

Wheeler again had seven caroms, and freshman Jeff Clark scored his

first varsity points on a three-point shot.

Laguna’s third game in three days ended in a 53-48 home loss to

Century. Hogan again led the way with 24 points, seven rebounds and

three assists, and Renault scored 10 points.

“Give credit to Century for being well prepared for Hogan,” Laguna

coach Rob Cullinan said. “We made a lot of physical and mental

mistakes. We will learn from this and move on.

“We came back last Saturday with a great attitude and we had the

most competitive practice of the year.”

Laguna is playing in the Aztec Classic, a tournament hosted by La

Quinta that culminates this weekend with championship round action.

Ivan Kovacevic, who had been out with a knee injury, returned to

the Laguna lineup on Monday for a first-round game against Estancia.

The Eagles sent Laguna Beach into the consolation bracket after a

66-51 win over the Breakers. Hogan topped Laguna with 23 points.

He went on to score 27 more points Tuesday night as the Breakers

bounced back to defeat La Quinta, 63-55, in a consolation game.