Laguna seventh-graders cap season with two wins

Laguna Beach’s seventh-grade boys’ All-Net National Junior Basketball

team closed out its 2002-03 season with a pair of victories and one

defeat in recent action.

Laguna’s final game came last Sunday in a 55-51 loss to Capo Dana

at Dana Hills High.

Laguna fell behind by 10 points in the first half but rode the

scoring of Kevin Buck and overall play of Alex Vasquez to narrow the

deficit to 26-24 at the intermission.

Nick Witte’s 18-foot shot from the top of the key in the second

half brought Laguna into a 44-44 tie, but Capo Dana’s height

advantage and free throw shooting allowed the host team to pull out

the victory.

Buck led Laguna in scoring with a season-high 22 points and he was

the key figure in a half-court trap that resulted in his six steals.

Marcus Hairston added 11 points to Laguna’s cause, Witte scored 10

and added six rebounds and three assists, Dalton Sype scored five

points and Vasquez rounded out the scoring with three points.

Prior to the Capo Dana game, Laguna scored a pair of impressive

victories.

They blew out San Clemente, 56-30, then survived a tough Irvine

team, 61-50, in a doubleheader played at Laguna Beach High.

Buck missed the twinbill due to an injury, but Laguna rolled

despite his absence.

Laguna opened up a 25-13 halftime lead on San Clemente then put

the game away with a 17-point fourth quarter.

Witte’s 16 points and 11 rebounds paved the way, Clay Knapp

finished with eight points and Dylan Doumeng added six points.

Warren Murrel matched Witte with 11 rebounds.

Against Irvine, Witte again paced Laguna, this time with 20 points

and Hairston added 17 more.

Sype, Doumeng and Murrel provided strong defensive efforts as

Laguna led from start to finish.

By going 2-1 in their final three outings, Laguna was able to

conclude its season with an with an overall record of 10-4.