High hopes entering league

Tonight marks the start to the Orange Coast League basketball races for the Laguna Beach boys’ and girls’ hoops teams, both of whom open play on the road, and both of whom entertain high hopes for a great run.

The varsity doubleheader at Calvary Chapel High in Santa Ana begins with the girls’ game at 6 p.m.

The boys’ game follows at approximately 7:30 p.m.

“We’re excited to get going in league,” Laguna boys’ Coach Bret Fleming said. “Overall, we had a successful run during nonleague play.”

Laguna’s boys’ team comes enters league play at 12-4 overall. In nonleague tournament action, the Breakers finished in fifth place at La Quinta, third place at Garden Grove and returned home Jan. 1 after a fifth-place showing in a tournament in Hawaii.

“I found out a lot about this team during nonleague play,” Fleming said.

“One of the great things I saw was that a lot of different kids have stepped up in different games. Pretty much everybody in the starting group has stepped up at one time or another.

“The kids are also getting better team concept-wise, as well as getting better and better playing together.”

Laguna’s balance has been evident during nonleague play. Three starters average double-figures in scoring, led by guard Marcus Hairston at 12.1 points per game.

Forward Ryan Lawler averages 11.8 points and guard Kevin Buck comes in at 10.4 per game.

Guard Dylan Roley and 6-foot-7 center Kenny Sullivan each average seven points a game.

Laguna won the Orange Coast League championship a year ago, the outcome of the 2007 race coming down to the final week of play.

The Breakers nailed down the crown by defeating Calvary Chapel.

In a four-team league where teams play each other three times, Laguna went 2-1 against the Eagles last year.

“I think this year shapes up pretty similarly to last year’s race,” Fleming said.

“I think that Calvary Chapel will be our biggest challenge. Estancia is hovering around .500 ball, but Costa Mesa is struggling.”

The nonleague portion of the season has also proved to be a success for the Laguna girls’ team.

The Breakers are 4-8 overall but first-year Coach Jon Hendrickson’s squad has taken teams down to the wire in six of those setbacks.

Hendrickson said the pleasant surprise to him, regarding his team, is that, “no matter what, we give it our all and compete on a nightly basis.”

Nonleague play highlights for the Breakers included Tess Grogan scoring a career-high 25 points against St. Margaret’s, the Breakers severing a losing streak that stemmed from last year by defeating Sage Hill Dec. 10, and staging a stirring comeback against Trabuco Hills that ultimately fell a few points shy of victory.

“Trailing by 10 against Trabuco and leading by one with 50 seconds left, showed me that there is no quit in this team,” Hendrickson said.

Laguna went winless last year in league play, but with a renewed sense of energy, the Breakers could very well make a move in the 2008 race.

Hendrickson summed up in one word what will be Laguna’s key to success in league play.

“Desire,” he said. “If the girls want it enough they have the opportunity to go from zero wins last year to league champions this year. That was the goal we set at the beginning of the season and we hope to accomplish our goal.”

Grogan is Laguna’s leading scorer at 12.3 points per game. Emily LaRose averages 10.1 a game and Lauren Kelly averages 9.2 points and 9.4 rebounds a game.

“Although we have won four games so far, I still believe we have much more to accomplish this year,” Hendrickson said.

“We cannot be satisfied with just competing and winning a few games. Our talent is much better and if we put it together and play our best, we will be league champions in 2008.”