More honors for Laguna hoopsters

Mike Sciacca

The Laguna Beach High School boys’ and girls’ basketball programs

began to turn the corner last year.

On Tuesday, both teams received news that would further bolster

the programs.

Ivan Kovacevic, a senior center on the boys’ team, and Claire

Bevacqua, a junior forward on the girls’ team, earned the distinction

of being named to the first team on the 2004-05 All-CIF Southern

Section Division IV AA teams.

The Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Assn.

announced the All-CIF Southern Section teams for girls’ and boys’

basketball Tuesday.

The awards are presented through contribution of the Amateur

Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles.

“Wow, what a fantastic thing for our program and for Claire,” said

Laguna girls’ coach, Stacy Howard, upon hearing the news of

Bevacqua’s inclusion to the All-CIF squad. “She is clearly one of the

most talented kids in the county, and I’m glad to see she’s being

recognized by CIF.”

In a 2004-05 season that saw Bevacqua first be named the Pacific

Coast League girls’ most valuable player, the 5-10 junior averaged

just over 18 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game.

“She had an incredible year for us, unlike any before her in this

program, and was a major piece in the breakthrough season that we put

together,” Howard said. “I’m proud of her.”

Laguna won its first league title in girls’ basketball this year,

and reached the CIF-SS playoffs for an unprecedented second straight

year in 2005.

Kovacevic has been the centerpiece on the Laguna boys’ team for

the past two years, in which the Breakers not only qualified for

postseason play but won first-round games.

The 6-5 center, who also was named co-MVP in the Pacific Coast

League, averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds during a senior year that

saw him play in 21 games.

In addition, he blocked 86 shots this year.

For Kovacevic, the first-team nod is a move up from last year, in

which he was named second team All-CIF.

“He’s more than deserving of this honor,” Laguna boys’ coach Mark

Hill said. “I haven’t seen sheets on the other players, but I’d have

to say he’s been one of the most, if not the, most dominant player in

the division.

“Ivan was extremely coachable and worked extremely hard. He has a

4.6 GPA and is a great citizen. Add all that up, and you can see that

the kid’s got it all.”

Each division included a first and second team, and each team

consisted of 10 members.

Kovacevic and Bevacqua were the only Orange County players named

to the Division IV AA boys’ and girls’ teams.