Delino’s late three-point play lifts Laguna

For the second consecutive weekend, Laguna Beach’s eighth-grade

All-Net boys’ National Junior Basketball team has been able to pull

out a last-second victory.

It took a three-point play by Brian Delino and then a tight

defensive effort as Irvine came down court for one final attempt at

victory for Laguna to escape with a 55-54 triumph at Laguna Beach

High.

Laguna trailed, 54-52, with 18 seconds remaining on the clock when

Delino took an inbounds pass from Ian Butters and connected on a

4-foot shot and was fouled on the play.

Delino successfully hit his free throw to give his team a

one-point lead, and Laguna’s defense was able to thwart Irvine’s

final shot at the buzzer to pull out the win.

It was the team’s eighth win in nine games and came on the heels

of last weekend’s 49-48 win over Encinitas.

In that game, Nathan Pickett converted a late three-point play to

rally Laguna.

Butters returned to Laguna’s lineup from the injury list and

showed no signs of being rusty as he hit three three-point baskets in

the opening quarter to give his team a 17-16 lead.

He hit two more three-pointers in the second period, but Irvine

had a hot hand of its own and they took a 32-31 halftime lead.

The visitors extended their advantage to 47-42 in the third

quarter and upped their lead to 52-44 with four minutes to play.

In the final four minutes, Bobby Monroe and Delino combined for

Laguna’s final 11 points as the team outscored Irvine, 11-2.

Butters led Laguna with 18 points on six of seven shooting from

three-point range.

Monroe contributed 16 points and came up with seven rebounds and

six assists.

Delino finished with 11 points and added five rebounds. Chris

Hyden led the team in assists with a game-high eight.

Pickett scored four points, and Ty Fleming and Pat Curran each

scored three.

Laguna, now 8-1, will look to add to its win streak on Sunday when

it travels to Westminster High for a 1:45 p.m. tipoff against

Westminster.