Breakers can’t keep up with Mustangs

The Laguna Beach girls’ basketball team finally got to sample some home cooking Wednesday when it hosted Costa Mesa in Orange Coast League play, but the outcome left a bitter taste for the Breakers.

Playing its first home game in nearly two months, Laguna didn’t net a single point in the opening quarter, got out-scored by the Mustangs by 14 points in the third quarter and went on to suffer a 53-26 loss.

The setback dropped the Breakers to 1-2 in league and 5-9 overall.

Costa Mesa is now 2-0 in league.

Laguna hadn’t played at home since it hosted Beckman in its season opener on Nov. 27.

“We played one of our worst games of the year and got rolled tonight against Costa Mesa,” Laguna Coach Jon Hendrickson said. “We didn’t score in the first quarter and were behind 19-5 at the half. It was ugly tonight and we’ll just have to go back to the drawing board and try and get better.”

Although they failed to score in the first eight minutes of the game, the Breakers were only down 8-0 after the first quarter.

Costa Mesa put the game away by outscoring Laguna 23-9 in the third quarter.

Emily Writer led Laguna in scoring with eight points. Emily LaRose scored seven and Tess Grogan had four points.

Wednesday’s loss was in far contrast to the Breakers’ previous league outing.

A year after going winless in league play, Laguna got its Orange Coast schedule off to a great start by defeating host Calvary Chapel, 58-53.

The third quarter was the difference for the Breakers who scored a season-high 23 points in the quarter, thanks to five, three-point baskets.

“The girls played awesome and gave their best effort of the year,” Hendrickson said.

Writer and Grogan each scored 14 points to lead Laguna. LaRose scored 10, Lauren Kelly eight, Samantha Garner six and Katie Daff three points.

Laguna will be out to improve to 2-1 in league today when it visits Estancia for a 6 p.m. tipoff.

The game is part of a varsity doubleheader, with the boys’ teams from both schools following at 7:30 p.m.

The Breakers step out of league play Saturday to take on host Century at 12: 15 p.m.

Laguna resumes league play Wednesday, hosting Calvary Chapel at 6 p.m.