Breakers ward off the Kings

The Laguna Beach National Junior Basketball third- and fourth-grade

team raced to a 14 point lead over the Trabuco Kings, then held on

for a 48-42 victory at Trabuco Hills High.

The Breakers took a 35-21 lead into the fourth quarter, where the

Kings staged a late rally.

Trabuco pulled to within six points in the final minute, but the

play of Zach Jaffe and a key rebound by Brogan O’Bryan, protected

Laguna’s lead.

The Breakers, now 5-2 overall, jumped to an early nine-point lead.

Free throw shooting, and two blocked shots by Andrew Jensen, helped

Laguna take an 18-6 first quarter lead.

Trabuco found a way to handle Laguna’s patented 1-3-1 zone and,

hitting from the outside, came back to narrow its deficit to six,

25-19, at the half.

Baskets by the Breakers’ Jake Dalke and Bryan Ludloff protected

the first half lead.

Laguna forced several turnovers and created scoring opportunities

at the start of the third quarter.

O’Bryan’s steal on Trabuco’s first possession led to a Remington

Zona layup and Jack Pillsbury came up with a steal and a later score

to help.

The Breakers’ defense limited the Kings to a single basket and

took a 35-21 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

“Their outside shooting was good but we didn’t let it get to us,”

Jensen said of Trabuco. “We knew we needed to play our game and keep

trying to go inside for the sure shot.”

Laguna returns to action Sunday for a 1:40 p.m. tipoff at Trabuco

Hills High.