League season tips off tonight

The second portion of the season begins tonight for the Laguna Beach High boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, as the Breakers play at Costa Mesa in the Orange Coast League opener for both schools.

Tipoff for the boys’ game is 7:30 p.m., preceded at 6 p.m. by the girls’ game.

Laguna’s boys come into tonight’s game on a roll, one that few teams in school history have enjoyed at this juncture of the season.

Eighteen games into the 2006-07 campaign, the Breakers sport a 15-3 record. It’s the best start by a Laguna team since the 1989-90 squad jumped out to a 14-4 start en route to a 20-7 finish.

The 1998-99 season — when the program also was led by current Coach Bret Fleming — was the last time a Laguna team won a league championship.

During the 15-3 start, the Breakers fashioned an 11-game winning streak during their first 12 games. Their current win streak is three, which they reached on Jan. 5 when they cruised past visiting Irvine, 60-37.

The Breakers gained control of the game in the second quarter, where they outscored the Vaqueros, 22-5, to take a 37-19 lead at the half.

The game was one of two final nonleague contests left for the Breakers this year.

On Monday, they’ll take on Glendora in the Martin Luther King Invitational at Century High in Santa Ana.

“We’ve had a challenging schedule so far, and Glendora will be another quality foe,” Fleming said. “I think we’ve played a very competitive nonleague schedule. We’ve beaten some good teams and that should get us ready for league.”

First up on the league slate is Costa Mesa. The Mustangs improved to 11-6 overall Tuesday following a 61-53 victory against University. Forward Larry Puente powered the Mustangs with 24 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

The Mustangs also attempted 29 three-point shots, but only converted five.

When it comes to handicapping the league race, Fleming says it will be competitive from start to finish.

“I’ve pretty much seen everybody in our league play this season,” he said. “Costa Mesa and Calvary Chapel are capable of beating us, and Estancia, as well.

“But I also think that if we are able to stay healthy and play at our best, we could and probably should win league.”

In the win over Irvine, senior Cheyne Martin scored a game-high 27 points and teammate Brian Delino scored 12.

Martin, still not at full strength due to a broken finger, is averaging 29.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Delino comes into the league opener averaging 10 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Ryan Lawler is contributing an average of 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds and Bob Monroe is averaging 5.5 points and 5.7 rebounds a game.

“Irvine was a good indication of what we’ll face often in league,” Fleming said.

“By that I mean that we’re going to get everybody’s best game. Irvine came out really pumped up and had a great first quarter. We need to stay focused and be ready to match or exceed the opponents’ level of intensity.

“Right now, I feel like all 10 players are really making contributions to the team. All are determined to give their best effort toward our success.”

Tonight marks a league doubleheader for both Laguna and Costa Mesa, as the girls’ varsity teams begin the night.

Laguna is looking for its first win of the season. The Breakers wrapped up nonleague play in the past week with losses to Irvine (55-23) and University (69-22).

Senior guard Brittany Clark scored 13 points in the loss to University on Monday and tied for game-high scoring honors with 19 points in the loss to Irvine.

The Breakers are 0-16 heading into league play.

“Our goal is to be competitive throughout league,” first-year Laguna Coach Keith Clarkson said.

“We play three rounds in league. We want to get a feel for the other three teams in the first round of league and we’d like to get in a win or two before the league season is done.

“We’ve been playing better and better, but our timing is still off. We need to get on the same page.”

Clarkson said that sophomore forward Ahlam Berri will play tonight’s game wearing a face mask. Berri suffered a hairline fracture when she took an elbow to her nose in a game against Newport Harbor in late December.

Following tonight’s doubleheader, both Laguna teams resume league play Tuesday at home against Estancia. That varsity doubleheader also begins at 6 p.m. with the girls’ tipoff, followed by the boys’ game at 7:30 p.m.