Home debut runs smoothly

For its first 17 games of the 2007-08 season, the Laguna Beach boys’ basketball team toiled on the road, going to one city after another, for this tournament or that nonleague game.

Well, Wednesday the Breakers finally made their home debut at Dugger Gym and made the most of it by pounding Costa Mesa, 64-48, in Orange Coast League action.

The win moved Laguna to 2-0 in league, ran its win streak to five games and allowed the Breakers to improve to 14-4 overall.

“It was almost strange,” Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said in regards to his team playing at home. “It was our 18th game of the year, and we finally didn’t have to travel.

“It’s nice to be home.”

Laguna got off to a sluggish start against the winless Mustangs (0-2 in league) but got into gear in the second half, thanks to a veteran player.

“I thought we started off kind of slow but then Charley Bowman hit the switch for us, especially in that second half,” Fleming said. “He really got our transition game going, and that led to some easy baskets.”

The Breakers began to pull away from the Mustangs in the second quarter and turned a 13-7 first-quarter lead into a 31-18 halftime edge.

Kevin Buck led a trio of Breakers in double figures with 17 points. Marcus Hairston and Kenny Sullivan each scored 14.

Rounding out Laguna’s scoring were Ryan Lawler with nine points, Dylan Roley with six, and Bowman and Matt Ininns each scored two.

“Kevin has been struggling with an ankle injury since Christmas tournament play, and he finally looks like he’s in rhythm again,” Fleming said of Buck. “Kenny Sullivan did a real nice job. He scored 14 points, grabbed some big rebounds and had several blocked shots.”

Laguna’s stay at home is short-lived, however: Today the Breakers head north for a 7:30 p.m. league game at Estancia.

“Yep, we’re on the road again,” Fleming said. “Being the defending league champion, I think that we’re getting everybody’s best shot.”

Wednesday’s easy win over Costa Mesa was a far contrast to the Breakers’ previous league game.

Laguna got the league race off with a victory Jan. 10 at Calvary Chapel, but it was anything but easy — or fast-paced — as the Breakers won, 32-31.

No team scored more than nine points in a single quarter. Laguna took a two-point lead at the half and a three-point advantage into the fourth quarter where they scored just six points.

It was the lowest-scoring game of the year for both teams. Hairston hit three three-point shots en route to a team-high 10 points and Ryan Lawler scored nine. Kenny Sullivan had six points, Parker King four and Kevin Buck three to round out Laguna’s scoring.

Following today’s game at Estancia, Laguna will begin the second round of league play Wednesday hosting Calvary Chapel at 7:30 p.m.