Breakers win two games at Garden Grove

Laguna boys’ basketball team plays in championship semifinals tonight.Playing in its second consecutive tournament, the Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball team got off to a hot start at the Garden Grove Tournament by winning its first two games.

On Monday, Laguna defeated Westminster, 51-37. Jeff Clark led a balanced Breakers scoring attack with 13 points.

Nathan Pickett added nine points, and Brian Delino and Bobby Monroe each scored eight.

Brendan Finnerty played “outstanding” defense, Laguna coach Bret Fleming said.

Laguna picked up its second tournament victory Tuesday by routing Oxford Academy of Cypress, 47-24.

Jeff Clark came up with 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals to pace the Breakers. Delino scored 15 points, and Ian Butters, who ran the offense, finished with five points and had four assists. Freshman Ryan Lawler had eight rebounds and blocked four shots.

Laguna will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.

The championship and third-place games will be played Saturday.

Prior to entering the Garden Grove Tournament, Laguna competed at the Taco Tournament hosted by Loara High. The Breakers went 1- in the tournament. They lost to Etiwanda (65-29) and Valencia (57-37) before defeating Ganesha (58-23). They also lost Laguna Hills, 44-35.

“It was a tough tourney for us this early in the year,” Fleming said. “But we need to mature quickly, and this helped open our eyes to how much we need to improve.”

Clark led Laguna in scoring at the tournament with games of 12, 11, 24 and 12 points.

Following the finals of the Garden Grove Tournament Saturday, Laguna will play its home opener Tuesday against Newport Harbor. Game time is 7 p.m.

In girls’ basketball:

Laguna, which hasn’t played since Dec. 8, returns to the court Wednesday with an away nonleague game at Woodbridge High. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

It’s the final game before the holiday break for the Breakers. They start the New Year with their home opener, a Jan. 4 nonleague date with Beckman.