High School Basketball: Breakers roll to first home victory
Playing for only the second time on its home floor in the 2014-2015 season, the Laguna Beach girls’ basketball team made its New Year’s debut in Dugger Gym a success by routing visiting Century, 51-21.
In leading from opening tip to the final buzzer, the Breakers were able to win for the third straight time and improve to 7-8 overall.
Laguna was in command by half, leading, 23-5, en route to posting its first home win of the season. The Breakers had dropped their season home opener, 42-37, to Newport Harbor on Dec. 17.
Junior forward Alexandra Lewis’ output of 21 points (five three-point baskets) matched Century’s total points. Another junior forward, Sydney DeCarlo, put up 10 points, sophomore guard Nicole Davidson scored nine points, and freshman guard Jasmine Banks had two points.
In her first game as a Breaker, junior guard Amy Nygaard, a transfer from Palm Desert High, scored nine points.
Laguna Coach Mark Lewis said Nygaard became eligible to play on Monday.
“She added another dimension to our scoring and contributed on the defensive end,” he said of Nygaard.
Laguna previously won three of four games at the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic in San Diego. The tournament ended Dec. 30.
“I like that we have kept up our momentum coming off of the good run in San Diego,” Lewis said. “With league play beginning next week, our game against Santiago on Friday will be a good test for us to ready ourselves for what is sure to be a fun, competitive Orange Coast League.”
Friday’s matchup against Garden Grove Santiago is the final nonleague tuneup for Laguna before it embarks on OCL play next week. The Breakers travel Friday to face the Cavaliers at 6 p.m.
“While I haven’t seen Santiago play yet this season, I know that their speed will challenge us,” Lewis said. “We will have to take care of the ball, value our possessions, play good sound defense, and get back in transition defense. This is what Orange Coast League play will be like, so the game against Santiago is a good challenge for us.”
Laguna, third in last year’s OCL race, begins its quest for a league title with a 6 p.m. tipoff next Tuesday at Costa Mesa.
The Breakers’ second league contest is a 6 p.m. home game on Thursday against Saddleback.
“As far as league play goes, I have seen a few of the teams play,” Lewis said. “Estancia is the two-time defending champ and, as such, is probably the favorite. After all, they are the champs until someone unseats them.
“I think there is pretty good balance throughout the league this year and I feel with how we have been playing of late and how we are gelling right now that we certainly figure into that mix. We are coming together and beginning to click and play well at the right time. The addition of Amy (Nygaard) adds more depth to our roster and an additional weapon offensively.”
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Boys’ Basketball
The Breakers, who haven’t been in action since completing play last week at the Torrey Pines Under Armour Holiday Classic, are back on the court Friday to host Capistrano Valley Christian.
Game time at Dugger Gym between the Breakers, tied for No. 13 in the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA preseason rankings, and Eagles, tied for No. 4 in Division 5A, is 7 p.m.
“This is going to be a good test for us before we get into league play,” Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said. “They have a couple of big players we’ll have to contend with, and we’re excited to get back to playing.”
Laguna won its final game at the Torrey Pines Under Armour Holiday Classic. The Breakers’ 60-56 win over San Diego Madison on Dec. 30 completed a 1-3 tourney finish.
The Breakers head into Friday’s game with Capo Valley Christian at 8-9 overall. After Friday’s contest, they start the second leg of their season, the Orange Coast League season, next Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Costa Mesa.
“At this stage of the season, we realize, as a group, that there is work to do,” Fleming said. “Our fundamentals need to be better, in all phases, and we are still in the process of finding that effort that is needed to compete.
“This is a young group with a steep learning curve, and our growing pains have been played out in public. That has made for some ups and downs so far this season, but the kids are working hard. My hope is that we come to an understanding of how we need to play in order to be successful the rest of the season.”
Laguna has won all eight Orange Coast League boys’ basketball championships since the league’s inception. The Breakers have won 23 straight league games and have gone undefeated in league play the last two years.
“There are, obviously, people gunning for us,” Fleming said. “Right now, I think that Godinez is probably head-and-shoulders more talented than everybody else in our league. It’s a senior-dominated team with a lot of experience. But, I think there’s a lot more balance in this league this year.
“For me, what I try telling the kids, is that somebody has to beat us to get to the top. We are not giving anything away.”
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca