Backbone of the program

Mike Sciacca

Four years ago, Alex Norfleet and Peter Renault were a pair of

freshmen trying to find their way on the Laguna Beach High campus.

Today, in the midst of their senior year, each has found his niche

at the school.

Norfleet and Renault, friends dating back to early childhood, are

the lone seniors to travel through the school’s boys’ basketball

program.

They carry the banner for the class of 2003, although that journey

has been anything but easy.

“They have worked hard to set the example that I expect out of my

players,” second-year Laguna head coach Rob Cullinan said.

“If I were to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10, in terms of the job

they have done leading by example, they would be at the top of the

chart.”

Cullinan says the duo has been committed to the program for four

years and have finished what they started in the fall of 1999.

They have played under two different varsity head coaches and have

been on teams that have struggled on the playing court.

But in the 2002-03 season, Norfleet and Renault are enjoying the

fruits of their labor: they are leaders on a unique team that also

consists of an extremely talented transfer, three juniors, three

sophomores and a freshman.

This team won the consolation championship at the La Quinta

Tournament, played last Monday for the consolation title at the

Mayor’s Cup Holiday Classic, and is posting a winning record for the

first time in three years.

The ultimate goal -- and conclusion to this journey, both say --

would be to help lead Laguna to the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Norfleet, a 5-foot-11 guard, played freshman basketball before

moving up to varsity as a sophomore.

The 18-year-old is the team’s second-leading scorer, with 8.3

points per game, leads the team in three-point baskets, with 24,

averages two assists per game and hits 77% from the free-throw line.

Renault, a 5-foot-7 point guard, is in his second year playing

varsity ball, and has played at every level in the program.

The 17-year-old averages 5.6 points and three assists per game,

has hit 20 three-point baskets and is first on the team with a 90%

free throw shooting average.

Two years ago, Laguna was regularly beaten by 20 or more points

per game.

“We’ve had so many ups and downs, but we both have stuck with it,”

Norfleet said. “I just wanted to play, although there were times

where I’d ask myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ I’m glad I’m still with

this program as a senior, because we’re having a fun year.”

With eight wins so far, the Breakers’ have already surpassed last

year’s six-win total.

Eleven wins qualifies a school for an at-large playoff berth.

Laguna has not won 11 games in a season since then-coach Bret

Fleming guided the school to a 20-7 mark and a share of the Pacific

Coast League title in 1999 -- the year before Norfleet and Renault

entered the program.

Before this season, the program had won just 17 games over a

three-year span.

“I think the key to our success is that everyone on this team

cares about one another and we play together as team,” Renault said.

“We all know our roles and we each take on that role, and that has

made us more successful this year.”

With one more nonleague game set for Tuesday at El Modena,

Norfleet and Renault are excited for the start of the Pacific Coast

League race, which begins on the Breaker’s home court Jan. 15 against

nemesis Corona del Mar.

“We’ve been picked to finish fifth in league but I think this team

will surprise some people,” Norfleet said. “I think this school has a

good program that is on the rise. Coach Cullinan has done a great

job, and the entire team works very hard. I just love playing

basketball, and so does Peter. That’s why we’re still both here.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. He can be reached at 494-4321 or by e-mail at

michael.sciacca@latimes.com.