Hoops squad goes out on a high note

The Laguna High girls’ basketball program took big steps this season.

Having gone winless the past five years in Pacific Coast League

play, the Breakers came on strong at the end of their 2002-03

campaign and wrapped up their season with a 51-49 victory over host

University.

The Friedman sisters, Lizzy and Emily, led Laguna in scoring.

Lizzy Friedman, in her final game, came up with her third

consecutive double-double by scoring 11 points with 12 rebounds.

Emily Friedman, a freshman, hit three, three-point shots and led

all scorers with 19 points.

Senior post Leslie Schmalzried, also playing her last game, was

double- and triple-teamed at times but still finished with eight

points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Laguna was down two at the half, 27-25, but grabbed the lead by

the end of the third quarter.

The Breakers extended their advantage to 10 points midway through

the fourth quarter before University came up with a late run, cutting

the deficit to three. But Christina Mestre and Deana Awadalla hit key

free throws in the final minutes to secure Laguna’s lead.

The victory was the second consecutive in league play and allowed

Laguna to win the battle for fourth place in the standings over the

Trojans.

Laguna won at University for the first time in four years.

“It was a great team effort tonight,” Laguna assistant coach Dan

Breece said. “We’ve executed our offensive scheme better in these

last two games than at any point this season.

“The girls’ are going out on a high note.”

Laguna, which defeated Tesoro prior to winning at University,

finished league play with a 4-6 record -- the school’s most wins in

league since the 1988 team went 5-5.

The Breakers finished 8-16 overall, the best showing by a Laguna

team since the 1996-97 team also went 8-16.

In boys’ basketball, Laguna’s season came to an end in a 100-66

loss at University.

Senior Kyle Hogan, playing in his final game, led all scorers with

35 points and added 10 rebounds.

Laguna’s other senior starters, Peter Renault and Alex Norfleet,

finished with nine and five points, respectively.

Sophomore Ivan Kovacevic contributed seven points.

The Breakers suited up just eight players, With Austin Sands and

Michael Kote out due to illness.

“University dominated the game in every aspect -- their press and

aggressive work on the offensive boards proved to be a huge factor,”

Laguna coach Rob Cullinan said.

Laguna finished the season with an overall record of 10-16 -- the

school’s best since the 1998-99 squad went 20-7 and tied for the PCL

championship.

In girls’ water polo, Laguna wrapped up its Pacific Coast League

season by beating host University, 10-8.

Annie Preble and Liz Rooklidge each scored three goals to lead the

Breakers who finished in second place and are competing this week in

the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Laguna ended it regular season with a 6-4 nonleague loss to

visiting San Clemente. Addison Doud paced the Breakers with two goals

and Katherine Gordon and Jenny Lenker each scored once.